When Others Are Going Through...Give

    When going through trials and tribulations throughout my life, many people have offered their advice to me and words that they thought were words of encouragement.  I say "thought" because a lot of times people thought that they were encouraging me, when in fact, they were actually making the situation worse.  I know this to be true in the lives of others as well. 
     During times of hunger, no one wants to hear, "Well, I'm praying for you."  That person actually wants some bread.  When a person's car is low on gas, "Good luck with that" is not what the person wants nor needs to hear.  When a person is ill, that person doesn't want to hear, "Hey, people get past this sort of thing all the time."  That person needs your prayers and encouragement. 
     Your prayers for people are good, but when there is a need to be met, you should try to meet that need, for it is people that God uses to answer the prayers of others.  This is is no way an attempt to discredit praying for others, but an attempt to show that we should learn to put action behind our empathy.  So many times we ask God how is it that we can serve Him, when He has given us numerous opportunities to do so through giving.  It all falls under the system of sowing and reaping, as we should always remember that it may be someone else down today, but our own personal downfall could be tomorrow. 
     Let's remember to love one another as Christ loves us, and to show ourselves charitable as often as those opportunities present themselves. Toya

Get Out Of My Face...

Get Out Of My Face...I have places to go and things to do, and I will not be held back by the likes of you...The girl that I used to be doesn't live here anymore, so you can throw away your little pad and stop keeping score.  Yes, I used to do this and I used to to that, but I'm a new person now and as a matter of fact, you can take me out that little box that you put me in and realize that we will never again be friends. Moving forward with my life, I ain't got time for you and just in case you missed the point, I AM TOO THROUGH WITH YOU...Get Out Of My Face...  By: LaTorya L. Nettles

What's Your Math?...

I hate to admit that while in elementary and high school MATH was not one of my favorite subjects.  I don't know why I developed such a hatred for math, but it was definitely not something that I was really good at - at least without using a calculator.  If you gave me a calculator, however, I could handle any problem like it was nobody's business.  The fear of M-A-T-H was something that took me a long time to get over.

In undergrad, I must have taken Algebra I and II at least two or three times each until I ran into an instructor who would change the way I felt about math forever.  Mr. Pilloti (hope I spelled his name correctly) changed the face of the game for me.  He was patient, and taught in a way that even I could learn.  He taught by breaking every step down, not assuming that every one already magically knew how to solve the problems.  (Thanks Mr. Pilloti).  It was here that I began to face my fear of math and went on to conquer it like it was nothing. 

Once I had a temp job where about 90% of the work involved MATH.  I was a little hesitant at first about taking the position, but, once on the job, I found that I had everything that I needed to be successful on the job, thanks to Mr. Pilotti and to me conquering my fear of MATH.  Whew!  Thank God for growth!

Many times we allow the fear of something to get in the way of us mastering whatever it is that we are afraid of.  Mine was math and for you it could be something totally different.  With Christ all things are possible and with His help we can conquer whatever may come our way.  He is not the author of fear and provides us with all that we need to climb any mountain that may get in our way.

God has provided us with everything that we need in order to be successful.  It's up to us to tap into those resources to master our lives.  Whatever you are afraid of accomplishing, don't be. 

I challenge you to face your mountain head on, and conquer the climb to successfully get over it...Be Blessed!

Don't Give Up - God's Got Your Back!

WOW!  That's all I can really say about events this week that have really gotten under my skin.  If you know me, and I mean REALLY know me, you know that it takes a lot to make me upset.  It seems as if every day this week I have been faced with some sort of challenge that has just made me shake my head and wonder what else could possibly go wrong.  I have gotten so upset about situations that I have had to literally just take a step back and through my hands up in the air. 

While taking a breather, I started to laugh.  Why?  Because I had quickly remembered that I am not in control of anything and that the only One who could bring me through these challenges was GOD.  I started to reflect upon similar situations that I have faced and I remembered how He brought me through those particular challenges.  So today I lift my hands praising God and thanking Him in advance for working these situations out for me. 

Whenever you are faced with challenges, remember that God is in control of all things and that no matter what may come your way, God's Got Your Back!  We must remember that the enemy will try to throw many daggers at you to get you off focus, but you have to remember to keep pressing through until you get the breakthrough that you have been praying for...Be Blessed...

What If?

I wonder what would happen if we really trusted God?  What would really happen if we believed all of His promises?  What if we REALLY believed that God is not man that He should lie?  What would happen if we didn't walk in fear?  What would happen if we spoke His word and things that we were believing for actually came to pass?  What if we truly walked by faith and not by sight?  What if we tithed according to His requirements?  What if we gave shelter to the homeless and food to the hungry?  What would really happen if we did the things that God required of us?  What if we were really willing to put in the work to reap the reward?  What if we lived our lives as if God was watching our every step? (Which He is).  What if we strive to bring peace and not strife?  What if we walked in God's agape love?  What would happen if we truly loved our neighbor as we love ourselves?  What if we forgave those who hurt us?  What would happen?  What if we thought before we opened our mouths to speak?  What if we fasted and prayed on the behalf of others?  I wonder how far an encouraging word would go?  What if we greeted each other in love and not with hate and envy?  Hey, what would happen if I gave you a hug instead of a dagger in your back?  What would happen if you were broke and I gave you gas money?  What if you had a need for something and I gave it to you?  What would happen if we stopped sleeping around?  I wonder what would happen if we truly believed that our body is His temple?  What would happen if I spoke His word and actually received true healing and deliverance?  What would happen?  What would happen if we could lay hands and give sight to the blind?  What would happen if I called an enemy and told them that I loved them?  I wonder what would happen if we really trusted God?

Count Your Blessings...

     As we come upon the Thanksgiving holiday, we should take time to thank God for the many blessings that he has bestowed upon us.  It is great that we have family and friends to spend our holidays with, but remember that someone, somewhere has no one to spend their holiday with.  Remember that someone is not going to have a big holiday feast, as we may.  If at all possible, invite someone to dinner who may not have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving or provide them with a gift card to a restaurant that will be open on Thanksgiving Day.  Remember that God is love and that giving is a part of exercising His love...

Enjoy your holiday...

LaTorya L. Nettles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwKlR5vNs6E

LaTorya's Motivational Space: When in Doubt, Praise!

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