Alone?

You ever just feel so alone even though you're surrounded by others? Ever just feel like something is missing and no matter who or what you fill your time with it just never feels like it's enough?

I've been there and I'm learning that this loneliness is a feeling that won't easily go away even though I've found a distraction.

 

At times I've had to ask myself "what do I feel like I'm missing"? Why don't I feel content? What lies have I allowed to become a truth? The lie that I've recently found myself believing is that I will forever be single, without purpose and alone. But understanding the difference between the lies of the enemy and the truth in the word of God is key.

 

My perception of loneliness was based on the idea that in order for me to feel valued, I must be in a relationship. According to this perception without a relationship I lose all purpose but this is one of the biggest lies I've ever heard. God has a plan and purpose for each and every one of His children in every season of our lives (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28). Truth is God can and will use us whether single or in a relationship and our value is always based on Him. 

 

The enemy wants me to worry and stress when God is calling for me to trust Him. Trust His timing. Trust His word. Trust and rest in his promises and His love. By worrying I haven't added anything to my life that has benefited me...only stress.

 

So today I am choosing joy. I am choosing to focus on God and trusting this journey.  

 

Be blessed.

When was the last time...

Do you remember the last time you had someone ask you how you were doing and you paused...you took a deep breath and considered for a minute the weight of your words...and then realizing that this is someone who cares about you...you exhaled...and let the words and maybe even tears flow?

Those are the type of friendships I crave. True friends who expect nothing but honesty and are prepared for whatever your words may bring. Being around those friends make for the best conversations. Conversations where time has no bearing and words have no limits and at the end of it all you feel lighter and the world feels a little more manageable.

I crave company who understand the need to silence, tuck away and ignore cellphones. Those who get that social media can wait and the most important thing at the moment is the person you are with.

When I'm with company who understand this seemingly simple request I treasure it.

Thankful for friends who get it.

Set goals to make your dream a reality!

Lately I've been thinking a lot about financial freedom. My current goals, from immediate to long term, are to pay off outstanding debt, save for my trip to Haiti and Europe and ultimately to save for a down payment on a house.

With all of life's demands, how will I make my dreams a reality? First by understanding the difference between what is necessary and what isn't at the moment. It will start by making changes in my budget: cutting back on unnecessary purchases and setting a realistic budget for things like meals and entertainment. I recognize that bills won't stop just because I have set these goals but my hope is that I will be consistent in my saving now which will ultimately benefit my future.

I look forward to what this journey will bring and though I know it will be hard I honestly believe that with God anything is possible.

Happy savings!

Dark skinned...

While away on a much needed retreat I stumbled across a heart breaking post on Instagram. A 14 year old African American girl posted screen shots of a young girl of an unknown race commenting on a photograph of her family. This young aggressor posted the comments "blacks="accidentally" burned by God" and "you're ew, ugly. You're black".

Being an Haitian American woman of a darker complexion, this form of hate hit very close to home. I grew up disliking the color of my skin. I was teased and put down and never felt comfortable in my own skin. At several points in my life, I questioned if I were a mistake that God had made. It was a horrible time in my life but I thank God for opening my eyes and helping me to see that He makes NO mistakes. Each and every one of us is created in God's image and we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

I understand now that everything that I've experienced whether in the past, present or future will be used by God to encourage someone else. I pray that you see how beautiful you truly are regardless of the lies you've been told.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image. in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.

Psalm 139: 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

There is always something new to learn...

This past weekend I had the awesome opportunity to go down to Brooklyn, NY for a day long group mentor session hosted by photographer, Danielle Finney of DFinney Photography based in Washington, DC. NY is one of my favorite places to visit and when I learned that this mentor session would be hosted in the city I couldn't let the opportunity pass me!

The mentor session was full of wisdom, personal experience, hands on help and tons of laughs. In addition to leaving with tools to take better natural light photographs, I also left encouraged to continue to pursue my dreams!

Giving up is an option and regardless of how difficult the journey may seem I have decided that I will stand firm and I will not quit. I believe God has given me this gift to share the beauty of His creation through photography and I believe that He has equipped me with the tools and resources to do just that. I am thankful for this humble beginning and I look forward to all that is to come!

I would definitely recommend this mentor session to anyone looking learn more about natural light!

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'.

--Erma Bombeck 

Reflecting on the beach...

Every summer without fail I look forward to laying out at the beach. Give me a clean patch of warm sand, warm weather and cool water and I am content. This summer was no different but unfortunately I didn't really have a chance to enjoy the beach as much as I wanted to. A busy schedule kept me away from the beach but luckily my vacation day fell on a perfectly hot summer day and I was able to spend the day at Nantasket Beach with my some of my family.

One of my favorite parts about being at the beach is walking along the shore. I love watching the imprints made by walking along the wet sand. And just as quickly as my footprints appear they are overtaken by the water lapping against the shore..essentially erasing all signs that I had just been there. Why do I love such a random and routine occurrence? Because it reminds me so much of the blood of Christ washing away our sins. No matter how much you try to leave a dent in the sand...the water always washes away your print. The water cleanses the sand just like the blood of Christ cleanses us of our sin. It leaves me speechless knowing that even though we still struggle with sin and we make bad decisions knowing the consequences God still loves us. Christ came not to condemn the world but to save it and regardless of how much of a mess we may have made (past, present and future) His blood is still able to make us new.

So the next time you think that your mistakes have disqualified you from the work of the kingdom of God, understand that God has already forgiven you and loves you too much to leave you as you are. Remember that you are cleansed of your sin and you are victorious in Jesus name!

Be blessed!

Stepping out in faith...

My goal is to share the beauty of God's creation through my photography and I desire to get better through practice and study. I have quite a few short term goals and one of them to attend a group mentoring workshop being held in Brooklyn, New York in September. At this time I am not able to afford the cost of the workshop and while in prayer and meditating God has placed it on my heart to ask for help. Asking for help has always been one of the hardest things for me to do but I am choosing to step out in faith and trust God in this season.

I'm believing that God will make it possible for me to attend this workshop and hopefully you can help make my dream a reality. 

Thank you in advance even if you are unable to donate at this time!

For more information visit my Go Fund Me: http://www.gofundme.com/d7weh4

There must be more to life than this...there just has to be...

I took these photos while visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site in Atlanta, Georgia. These words were written in 1963 and 1967 respectively. I took the photos because they spoke to me when I saw them and they speak to me now loud and clear. With everything that is going on in recent news it is clear that we are still fighting for justice. It is clear that there is so much more work to be done.

I have prayed "God, break my heart to the things that break your heart" and God answered my prayer. My heart is heavy. I'm hurt, I'm sad, I'm scared and I'm angry. I can't wrap my mind around what is going on, not just what happened in Ferguson but all over this country. This senseless violence needs to stop. We need to do so much better. We have too many men and women losing their lives. So much wasted potential. So many dreams that will never come true. 

I pray that you read this not as a rant but as a plea for you to start praying. Not just for what is happening right now but for what has already happened and what may happen in the future. Pray for those who don't know Christ, those who need comfort, those who need peace. Pray because only God can make right all of these wrongs. 

Praying. Trusting God. Resting in His peace.

 

Boston JerkFest 2014

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph the 2nd annual Boston JerkFest. The family-friendly Caribbean style food festival was held at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology located in Boston's South End. With the warmth of the sun on our backs, the soulful sounds of live Caribbean music in our ears and the delicious smell of freshly cooked food wafting through the air all of our senses were being caressed at this event!

Being a Boston native it was

heart warming to see the Caribbean culture brought to the South End. Showcasing spicy food, refreshing drinks and live music this event was a hit. It was a beautiful sight to see everyone genuinely enjoying themselves and this event had a little something for everyone young and old!

I look forward to next years event and seeing how this event grows and impacts our city.

To learn more be sure to visit http://www.bostonjerkfest.com. To see more pictures visit me at facebook.com/marcelinevphotography

Eat, Drink and Be Irie!

I just need to be honest...

Ever had a dream so big that it scared you??
I dream of quitting my full time, full benefit job and travelling
I dream of buying a one way ticket to a new state/country and starting from scratch
I dream of taking pictures of all of the beauty around me and sharing it with the world
I dream not to make myself famous but to show that God creates creatively 
That His works of art are all around us but sometimes we have the hardest time seeing them
But to be honest just writing this down scares me
I fear failure
I fear the debt that I'll leave behind
I fear the responsibilities that I will leave as a burden for others
I fear not being good enough
I've come to the conclusion that I fear the unknown
But faith is trusting God with every part of my life
So I am choosing to not be fearful but to trust God for direction and wisdom
My passion is photography and I've loved it for as long as I can remember 
Whatever God's purpose is for my life I am choosing to trust that He didn't give me these gifts and talents just for them to go unused

I hope to encourage you to face your fears and trust God in the process
I'm rooting for you!!

It's a new day!!

It's been so long since I've blogged. I can blame it on being busy with work, life and ministry but honestly I just haven't had the desire to share. But today is a new day and I'm reminded that being alive is all the reason to praise God. Today I am choosing to focus on God and not my circumstance and I hope to encourage you to do the same.

I wrote this piece a few months ago but I would love share it with you. I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me this morning.
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There are times when I don't feel God. When I feel like my prayers aren't being answered and the pain in my heart feels unbearable. During those times I lose focus of how great God is because my current situation looks so bleak. I lose sight of ALL God has done for me because of those moments of "silence" but it shouldn't be this way. In the silence, I need to be encouraged and remember ALL that God has done in the past and stand on His great promises and His perfect plan for my life.

God doesn't have to do anything else...He is always deserving of the highest praise! He sent His son to die for our sins...to give us eternal life...what more do we need?? Even if your present situation is full of chaos we need to know and should stand on the truth that God loves us. He  won't leave us to fend for ourselves, He is always with us and in Him we have the victory! So praise God in the good times and the bad! Praise Him even before you see any change to your situation! Praise Him because He can turn any situation around!

Psalm 23:  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Bend, Balance, Move!

Stressed? 

Why not give yoga a try!

Yoga is one of my favorite ways to let go of a day’s worth of stress. Before I begin practicing I focus on nothing but the moment...not worrying about what happened earlier or what still needs to be done but just being present becomes my priority. 

I find the most peace as I bend, balance and move to my breath without interruption or distractions. As you can probably tell by the photographs my favorite poses involve being in the headstand position! Give me some empty space and I will be upside down in seconds!

There are so many poses that you can try. Each has great benefits for the body and your overall health. Take your time and do what feels right for your body. While flexibility is one of the biggest goals, the added bonus of practicing yoga is that you will also learn to cope with stress through meditation and you will also learn to control your  breath. 

It will be terrifying the first time but through patience, practice and persistence the poses will become easier. Once you master one pose, challenge yourself to do it even better!

Be you. Know you. Love you.

This weekend I had the wonderful privilege of joining the Young Black Women's Society (YBWS) for their Next Generation Women of Color Summit. From the moment I walked into the Conference Center at Simmons College in Boston I was greeted by warm smiles and friendly faces, the combination of the two made the room full of strangers feel like a room full of sisters!

The day was packed with excellent speakers, wonderful sessions and an abundant amount time to network. The guest speakers humble, transparent and encouraging. Throughout the course of the day we, as attendees, were encouraged to be ourselves, to invest in ourselves and to invest in each other. We were reminded that we need each others and that as we succeed and excel, part of our duty is to lift our sisters up along with us.

Not only were we encouraged professionally but we were also encouraged spiritually. As I sit here reflecting, I am reminded of one of the sessions that I attended titled "Nurturing Your Spirit". Our speakers for the session were Dr. Bernadine Nash-McClam and Vannessa V. Lewis and one of the great things that we learned was that personal development is key to professional success. Sometimes we focus so much on our professional careers that we lose sight of who we are and we suffer personally. We were encouraged throughout the session to really take the time to nurture our spirit and to take care of ourselves. How do you nurture your spirit? One way is to consciously quiet the noise around you. Your internal voice needs to be louder than the voices outside of you. Having the courage to face your fears and to strive to reach for your dreams is another important way to nurture your spirit. Recognize that fear is a feeling and you are much stronger than you think!

Be you. Know you. Love you.

Many businesses were represented in the room and I had the wonderful privilege to sit down with Bithyah Israel, the founder of City Strings. City Strings is a stringed instrument learning program that is offered to youth in the inner city of Boston. All too often our youth miss great opportunities to participate in programs such as this because of the lack of financial resources but I was overjoyed to learn that City Strings is offered at no charge. At City Strings, students are taught how to play the cello, read music, collaborate with other musicians, and perform in a public setting. Find out more about the program and learn how you support City Strings!

There is so much more that I can share but I hope that I have peaked your interest in joining or supporting the Young Black Women's Society!

SoWa Open Market 2014!!

I love to buy and support local small businesses in and around Boston and SoWa Open Market makes it so easy! Set up on Sunday afternoons SoWa is a great place to get introduced to local businesses, taste good food and shop! It is open to the public and there is no cost to enter. You wont feel pressured to buy anything but keep in mind you may find something that you like!!



Food trucks!
Art galleries
Vintage clothes!
Handmade designs!
Antique wares!
Fresh fruits and vegetables!
Pastries and so much more!


With three blocks full of vendors there is bound to be something there for you!

What did I find while at SoWa Open Market? Mint Honey from The Herb Lyceum located in Groton, Ma, Moroccan Mint Tea and Mediterranean Blend Spice from Soluna Garden Farm based in Winchester, Ma and I cannot forget my Special Cake Donut from Union Square Donuts located in Somerville, Ma.

Stop by May through October along Harrison Avenue in Boston’s South End you wont regret it!

My meatless journey

I stopped eating meat in July of 2012. I eat fish sparingly, organic eggs and from time to time I eat cheese. After watching documentaries like Super Size Me and Food, Inc I was longer comfortable with eating hormone fed meat. Before this I was a lover of chicken, turkey and hamburgers. I appreciate that these documentaries were created because they did a wonderful job at bringing to light some of the mystery behind the food industry. 

Advice for transitioning:

Start slow and choose healthy alternatives! I was not a big meat eater and the hardest thing to give up was the chicken. If you are a lover of ALL meat, I would suggest maybe first transitioning to organic meat; the cost will increase but the level of unnatural chemicals and hormones will decrease. A way to offset the cost is to alternate days that you eat meat, instead of eating meat everyday, try buying enough for every other day and/or every other meal.

One of the hardest parts of not eating meat when I first started was finding something to replace the protein. I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning but I appreciate where I started and how far I've come. I felt like I was ALWAYS hungry and I overcompensated with carbs...potatoes, bread, rice, and pasta. All of which are fine in moderation but I ate them in excess because I was not "full". I wasn't replacing the meat protein with another form of protein and I was not getting enough nutrients because I wasn't eating enough vegetables. I was tired and I was gaining weight...both of these were not good! 


After realizing how much weight I was gaining I knew that I needed to do something different. I started to eat more nutrient rich hearty vegetables and added whole grains to my meals. I have also started to incorporate other sources of protein...nuts, whole grains like quinoa and beans (black beans especially). There are also other alternatives like Tofu, veggie burgers and mock meat...they are usually made with soy. I personally don't like soy and I was blessed to find Field Roast Sausages at Whole Foods...no soy, no corn, and all natural.

Being intentional in the way you eat is a lot of work when you are no longer eating meat but the health benefits outweigh any sense of burden you may encounter!

Don't give up!

DISCLAIMER: I have never been on a track team and I have never had a coach. I was never on any form of a sports team growing up so I've never been considered athletic.

I started to run after I graduated college. I fell in love with everything about it. I loved the adrenaline as I ran and the way I felt after. Regardless of if it was just 1 mile or 3 I lived for the opportunity to run on some land or to hop on a treadmill.

While I LOVE running it has actually become one of the hardest things for me to do. My knees have been an issue for me for a while now. Pain here and there that I keep an eye on but I fear that it may progress into something more. My mother has really bad knees, her pain is constant and there is little relief. She experiences pain when standing, sitting and laying down.

So while I still can, I will run. I will listen to my body and rest when I need to but I will continue to make goals and endeavor to reach them.

I plan to run the B.A.A 10k in June.
I want to someday do a half marathon and maybe even a full marathon.

The goal of writing this is to encourage someone to not give up on your dreams! Listen your body, slow down when you feel pain, take as many breaks as you need, but don't give up! Please ignore all of those negative people who have ever told you that you weren't good enough or that you'd never accomplish your dreams.

Don't lose hope!

Don't quit!

Keep pushing!

What are you focused on?

About a month ago I started writing a devotional a day about whatever God placed on my heart. I wanted to share this one today and I hope it blesses you...

One of the things that I look forward to every Thursday morning is my paycheck. Getting that check weekly is like a charger, it energizes me and keep me going for another 7 days. Yesterday I read Matthew 1-7, and this morning I thought about Matthew 6:24 you cannot serve both God and money. Financial stability is something that we all desire but is it at the expense of our relationship with God? God is the one who gives us the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and at the same time He gives and He takes away (Job 1:21). Money comes and just as easily it can be gone. Where have you placed your priority? Is it on building your wealth on the earth or storing your treasures in heaven? God wants to bless us with resources while we are on earth but He doesn’t want our focus to be solely on money at the expense of Him being glorified.

The day to day demands can become taxing on the mind, body and financial resources. When funds run low we as humans can sometimes get overwhelmed and our focus becomes solely on how we can get more money. When we sit and reflect on our resources sometimes it makes us sad; we don’t make enough money, we can’t afford nice trips and lavish vacations and more. We think of all that we cannot afford and forget that we are actually rich in Christ. We lose sight of the fact that life on this earth is temporary and we can’t take any of our treasures with us when we die. Being children of God means that we have an inheritance that cannot be compared to any financial wealth we can ever have on this earth (Ephesians 1:18).

Instead of focusing on my resources and what I do and do not have, I have decided that I will focus on God. I will focus on doing His will and making Him the priority daily.

Have a great weekend!

All of those lies...

The lies that people tell about us hurt. I won't debate that. When you allow those lies to take root in your heart, they become a reality to you. They strip you of your God-given strength and you lose the courage to step out in faith. The amount of pain that comes from those lies is great and depending on the person it can take years to repair the hurt and pain that comes with them.

I pray that you read this and believe that it is coming from a genuine place: I'm sorry. I'm sorry for your pain, I'm sorry that you were lied to for all of those years. I'm sorry that those lies crippled you and caused you to not trust anyone. I'm sorry that you never got that apology from the loved one who hurt you so long ago. I'm sorry. 

If I write nothing else my desire is for you to realize this truth: all of the lies that you heard in the past were just that...LIES. They had no place being spoken into your life then and they certainly have no place in your life now. See them for what they are so that you can move on to bigger and better things.

My story is full of bumps and bruises. Stories of hurt and pain. My past could have made me bitter but I've chosen to have joy. Why? Because my strength, my desire to go on, comes only from God. He makes me unstoppable because greater is He who is within me than he who is within the world (1 John 4:4). He renews my strength (Isaiah 40:31, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). I've tried to do things on my own for so long but have failed time and time again. I am but flesh, weak in every way, but the truth is I rather be weak any day knowing that God is on my side than to boast of my own strength independent of God.

Be love and be open to receive love.

Love in Action

I will never boast of perfection and praise be to God that though I am not where I want to be I am not where I used to be. I don't have all of the answers but I can point the way to God, the only one who does.

God is love

Our creator, our source, our everything

I say love is all you need

But do you really believe it?

I write about LOVE a lot. My focus isn't on romantic love but the love of God towards His children and the love we were created to show towards God and to each other; as brothers and sisters. Every day is a celebration of love; it is only by the grace and the love of God that we arose to see another day. Think for a minute about those who didn't wake up this morning. Tomorrow isn't promised so I challenge you to start showing love today.

Love in action simply means reflecting love through your actions. Love is more than just words. How genuine would you think my love is if my actions never lined up with my confession of love?

Ever hear of the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman? I would encourage you to take this test! http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/ Be honest with your answers and this tool will single out your primary love language and will also give you insight into how others receive love. It can actually change the way you connect with those close to you and will enhance your relationships/communication. I challenge you to demonstrate love with your words and your actions. Treat people with the love and kindness that you expect to receive. The biggest challenge will be showing love to those who show you hate but we are called to love even those who hurt us (Matthew 5:44). 

1 Corinthians 13 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible; it not only describes what love is but also describes the characteristics of God and in turn the characteristics that are to be true about us. Try substituting "love" with "God" and then try substituting "love" with "your name". This is love in action.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Where is your faith?

I read a post the other day that read, “I have no more faith in humanity” and all I could think to do is pray.

Faith (noun) : complete trust or confidence in someone or something

Trust (noun) : firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

We can all think of situations where we were inconsistent, weak and unfaithful. Reality is that no matter how hard we may try we will eventually let someone down. Knowing our own limitations makes it clear that even those with the best intentions will never be perfect. If you need someone to put your faith in, I would encourage you to get to know God. His love for each and every one of us will never change and He is forever faithful.

Faithful (adjective) : loyal, constant, and steadfast.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Psalm 118:8 

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans

I know that even if everyone fails me, God is forever faithful and I am forever thankful. 

Love TODAY

Death reminds us that tomorrow is not promised. It motivates us to love and celebrate each other while we have the opportunity. Losing a loved one is hard and upon reflection we sometimes realize that we had so many wasted moments not filled with love. Can we decide today to never let our relationships end thinking “I wish I had loved more”? Can we decide today to put on love — that we wont ever go a day without it? 

God gives and He takes away (Job 1:21). The rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). We are not protected against broken hearts, hurt feelings, or loss but even though hard times come — we have God, we have the hope held out in the gospel, we have the assurance that ALL things work out for our good. 

Can we decide to never to give up on love? Can we decide today that we will not love like the world loves, but that we will love like God loves us? Can we do that? Yes, we can. Will it be hard? It may seem like it is because it is against what the world wants and what our flesh wants us to do. Is it worth it? It is worth more than we can imagine!

Choose love TODAY!

With a heavy heart

Some days are harder than others to get out of my feelings. On random occasions all I seem to be able to focus is the doom and gloom. Instead of seeking comfort in God, I seem to find comfort in my "woe is me" attitude.

On days like that I really have to stop and do an attitude check. I've come to realize that I'm focusing all of my energy on worrying and trying to make a way on my own terms to solve my problems, instead of spending time in prayer asking for understanding and wisdom to effectively deal with the situation at hand. I've come to understand that during the times when I'm feeling overwhelmed by life, I need to be intentional about how I react in that moment. God is able to take care of every situation that I will encounter but He needs me to stop relying on my own strength and to really just lay my burdens before Him and allow Him to take the wheel. I can't continue to carry my burdens because they are like heavy weights that keep me from being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Truly trusting and relying on God in the good and especially the difficult times takes a genuine surrender of your heart. The best decision you could ever make is to trust and believe that the will of God is perfect and that even in the midst of the troubling times God is right there with you.

Happiness

For the first time in a long time I can actually say that I am happy. Not because things are all in order or because I have all that I could ever desire. Can't say that  my happiness stems from any physical thing that I now have in my possession.

No, my happiness is from the secret that I've found that makes being content with the little and the plenty so much easier.

What's the secret? To stop running and really just surrender to the will of God. I finally stopped wrestling with God. I stopped doing things my own way, on my own conditions. Daily I am overwhelmed with his unfailing love, His grace and His mercy. He is the source of my joy and my contentment.

He has and always will be the keeper of my heart and I am so thankful that even as I ran from His love, He never stopped pursuing me.

Strength in God

You're stronger than you look because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. The enemy will highlight your weaknesses but I encourage you to stand on the word of God. Stand on God's truth and allow nothing to steal the hope that you have in the Lord.

1 John 4:4

My God: Faithful

I spent the first 20 days of this year shutting off social media and different distractions that have kept me from spending time with God. I found myself always finding something to look up or something to read instead of praying and instead of spending time in the word of God.

During that time I also started the first day in my new position and with the fast now over I have realized that God was revealing to me where He wants my focus to be in every area of my life and especially at this job. My dependence is solely on Him. Without God I will fail. Period. Put God first and watch Him move on your behalf.

I turned off Facebook and Instagram and spent more time with God at work and at home in my personal time. I prayed before seeing patients and before going into meetings. I prayed for patients, I encouraged them to not give up on their faith in God. I prayed before speaking, I prayed for others like I was praying for myself. And you know what...I loved every minute. I didn't miss being preoccupied with someone else's life because I finally realized how great mine is. I am exactly where God wants me to be in this season.

God is too good to be a second thought. Spend time with Him and watch how He will blow you away!!!

Fear

All too often we allow fear to control us. We allow the unknown and the uncomfortable to keep us from elevating to where God has for us to go.

What if you stopped worrying and started trusting God?

What would it look like if God had to comfort you less because you trusted Him more?

What if you took a step in faith and allowed God to use you in a new place?

Ever wonder what you're missing by not trusting God?