Tag: goals

Enough.

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At the end of the year, I make time to reflect on the year behind me – the good and the bad, the growth and the areas of stagnation (the more appropriate word might be rebellion – but I am working on being kind to myself…), the people that came into my life and those that left, the opportunities and experiences that I’ve had and even those that I missed, the goals I met and those that remain unchecked on my list.

There was a time where I would feel defeated if I didn’t improve in a certain area or meet my goals for the year – even if I met 3 out of 5, I would consider it a loss. I would try to cram some of the unmet goals into whatever time remained instead of taking the time to rest, reflect, recommit, celebrate, and recover from making it through another year. Another year of doing enough…if I am being honest, probably more than enough (one of my opportunity areas but God is still working on me).

As I continue to grow up…sorry let me use grown up words here…mature, I view things differently. I recognize that maybe it wasn’t intended for me to do all the things that I (emphasis on the word I) planned to do, but that I did everything God wanted me to do. In I am being transparent, one of my goals was to be more consistent with writing for Royalty. I started off the year doing well according to me, however, not only did life change, but the assignment changed. While I wasn’t regularly writing here, I was using my gift in other areas – which I look forward to sharing more about in due time! 

This year I have learned not to be so married to my plans that I can’t pivot and embrace when plans change and to stop measuring success based on my ability to reach every one of my goals and intentions.

Instead, I ask myself:

  • Did you do your best?
  • Did you do what you were supposed to do?
  • Did you learn from the mistakes and missteps along the way?

If the answer is yes, then you did enough.

This year I have been blessed to witness some beautiful things, as well as some not so beautiful things. I have made new memories and even missed out on a few opportunities. I have been blessed beyond what I deserve and have been frustrated when things have not gone my way. I have met some great people and encountered some not-so-great people. I have built some amazing relationships and lost a few along the way. I have done things that I once thought was impossible, stepped out on faith and fell down a couple times along the way. I have done the work required of me, the work on myself, the work I have been assigned and on occasion some other folks work, yet there is still much work to be done. But everything that has happened this year was enough. Everything that I did was enough. Enough for me and enough of what God wanted for me.

As we prepare to flip the page on chapter 2022, I encourage you to celebrate all that you did this year, reflect on all the moments, assess your opportunity areas, set a few goals for the coming year and commit yourself to them. However, the most important thing you should do, is thank God for all that He has done for you this year and commit yourself to Him, because He has always been more than enough.

My prayer for you in 2023 is that you embrace all of who God created you to be and all He has in store for you.

“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].”

– 3 John 1:2 AMP

Take a breath, relax, and chill out…. What you did this year was enough. You are enough. He is enough.

Peace & Blessings,

Jennifer

How’s it Going?

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Photo by Prateek Katyal on Pexels.com

Welcome to March! How are those New Year’s resolutions, intentions or goals coming along? For some of us, we start the year with new goals, intentions, and resolutions, ready to conquer the world, be better and do better. Sadly, we tend to lose steam, focus and commitment or perhaps a curve ball comes our way that knocks us off course.

The good news is…you have 305 days ahead of you! Take a breath, reset, and get back to working on those goals.

Start with self-reflection.

Is this something God wants for me?

As a person of faith, I believe this is the most important question you can ask. You may be embarking on a goal that is not part of God’s plan for your life. If that’s the case, you may need to do a little bit more searching to determine what it is you should be doing in this season.

Am I trying to do this on my own?

Are you relying on your willpower alone? Well, that’s not going to quite cut it. While hard work is important, you need accountability, support, and counsel to help you reach your goals.

Am I getting in my own way?

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We allow fear, insecurity, rejection, and past failures to keep us from achieving our goals. Self-sabotage will surely keep you from the finish line.

Commit your plans to God.

Seek God in your goal planning. Trust Him to guide, provide and empower you.

Walk with God.

You may need other people to achieve your goals, but true, lasting success only comes from God. Stick with Him through the good and bad.

Stop dwelling on the past.

Don’t stay stuck on yesterday, the day before, last month or last year. Your work is in front of you.

Keep it moving.

Don’t let obstacles and setbacks keep you from moving ahead. There are lessons to be learned and a goal to reach. You may need a time out but don’t stay there.

Have faith in God….and you!

Trust God throughout the process. Put your faith in Him and yourself. You got this!

Don’t give up. It may be hard at times but there is something great on the other side.

You can do all things through Him who gives you strength.

Philippians 4:13

 

 

#RELATIONSHIPGOALS

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In a day where information is available to us at a tap or click, we can easily be deceived into believing that we can get all of the information that we need to know about a person. Think about it. How often do you meet someone (or even before you meet them) do your ‘research’? Checking Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. – even going as far as a free background check…totally bypassing the opportunity to connect and really get to know someone. Society has turned us into people that crave information more than relationship.

Our information makes us feel smart, safe, secure, and a step ahead. It makes us experts yet ineffective in our relations. Often creating barriers that prevent us from embracing true relationships. Armed with our “information”, we enter in to relationship with preconceived notions, false expectations (and often false information), standards and rules that prevent us from cultivating a genuine relationship with a person.

Same can be said with our relationship with God. Our knowledge (or lack thereof) and expertise, can be a barrier to our relationship with Him. Our knowledge can give us this puffed up idea that we know all there is to know and that we are the subject matter experts on all things holy. Instead of basing our relationship with God on salvation, grace, intimacy and experience, we base it on information, rules, certifications, titles, commandments, and others views of Him. Don’t be mistaken, as believers and followers of Christ, we should diligently study the Word of God as our source of truth, our history and instructions for living. However, information without a relationship with the One it’s all about, is useless.

During His time on earth, Jesus fiercely warned a group of people who valued religion more that they did a relationship with God. The Pharisees felt that their knowledge, interpretation of scripture and rule based systems were the way to a righteous life.

“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won’t go in yourself, and won’t let anyone else in either.” Luke 11:52 MSG

The Pharisees were keeping people – including themselves, from the Kingdom of God based on their information. Their knowledge kept them from a relationship with God that could only come through salvation in Christ alone – not information, criteria or rules. Similarly, our desire to consume information to prove what we know and how much we know, can keep us from growing in relationship with Christ. As we constantly pursue information, we often miss opportunities to connect with Him, experience Him, embrace Him and live for Him.

Here are a few relationship goals we should have:

1. Connect with God through salvation.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, consider asking Him into your heart. It’s the most important relationship you will ever have. You can do it right now….just say these words..

“I’m a sinner in need of rescuing. I need You, Jesus, as my Lord and Savior. I believe that you came to earth as God in the flesh, died on the cross for my sins, and rose again so that I can live eternally with You. I ask you to come into my heart and change me, that I might live for You. In Jesus Name, Amen”

2. Get to know God through His Word, daily devotions and prayer.

3. Express gratitude and value your relationship with praise and worship.

4. Hang out with God. Make personal quiet time, church and fellowship a priority.

5. Put your relationship on display and share the Good News. Let others see proof of your relationship by being the light and tell others about the One you’re in relationship with.

Now for a few closing words from a former Pharisee…

“The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ— God’s righteousness.

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.” – Paul

(Philippians 3:7-11 MSG)