Lately, I've been running around like a chicken with her head cut off. My to do list is overwhelming and I've been struggling to manage it all - writing blog posts, editing blog posts, working full-time, creating products for my Etsy shop, working out, and spending time with friends and family - it was beginning to take a toll on me. It all needed to be done but no matter how much I worked nothing was getting done as quickly as I would have liked.
Hey y'all, long time no see (figuratively speaking). It's been two months since my last post and so much has happened since then. I'm proud to announce that I (drum roll please.....) launched my online business! On Nov. 1st I officially embarked on the journey of entrepreneurship and to be honest it's been a bit overwhelming.
For as long as I can remember I've wanted to start my own business, but as I grew up and my interests changed I had no idea what type of business I wanted. four months ago it finally came to me.
Hey Friends! I'm am finally back! I've missed writing to you all but i'm thankful for the much needed break. Over the last two months I've rested and re-focused. I gave my site a mini makeover, started an online business more on that later this week) and thought long and hard about how I want to use this platform to impact and encourage.
There are so many focuses I could choose but my heart is this
Hey Friends! Lately my life is has been crazy busy. I wanted to take a moment and let you in on what's going on.
So much has changed in life in the last six months, more than I can share in this post. I've never been more sure of my purpose, confident in myself, and on fire to pursue my dreams. I feel like I'm on the verge of living the life I'm was meant to live. But i'm also finding that I'm very stretched for time. I want to do it all but I know I can't do it all at once.
I don't know about you, but sometimes I become so pre-occupied with the things God has called me to do that spending time with Him gets lost in the shuffle. My life begins to feel like the ultimate juggling act.
Outside of working full time I blog, lead a small group, and am preparing to start an online business. I know that God has called me to do these things, but I cant help but feel mentally overwhelmed. I doubt myself and abilities, and begin to feel completely incapable.
I had to take a step back and re-evaluate everything...
Don't believe the lie. You know the one echoing inside your head, taunting you and whispering, "You're not good enough or smart enough". It says, " Because of your past you're not lovable". It encourages you to compare yourself to others so that you will think you're not beautiful, should be further along in life, and will always be alone.
Insecurities - we all have them. They are birthed out of a feelings of inferiority. For one reason or another we've bought a lie that some aspect of our self isn't good enough, causing us to think less of ourselves.
At times I'm very insecure about my shyness. I'm a bubbly, silly, always laughing way-too-much kind of girl, but that's not a side of my personality many people see.
As I sat on the plane, staring out the window at the mounds of clouds, my eyes begin to fog up with tears.
I was completely overwhelmed. One of my greatest desires is to travel the world, but I never thought it would happen so soon (that is without going into an excessive amount of debt). Here I was on a return flight from Australia, a trip completely ordained for me by God. Six months earlier my plan for July 2016 was to travel domestically to Washing D.C and Nashville but for a reason I could not understand, the Holy Spirit urged me not to.
I'd saved so much vacation time from the previous year and desperately wanted to travel during the summer. I couldn't understand why God was telling me not to go
Last month I had the privilege of traveling to Sydney, Australia to attend Hillsong Conference. One of the guest speakers was Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic (church) in Los Angeles, California. He gave a challenging sermon about prayers and I want to share my insights with you.
He preached from Matthew 20:29-34 –
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Erwin raised the question as to why Jesus would ask ‘What do you want me to do for you?”. Why didn’t he just heal them?
As promised, here is a full recap of my experience at Hillsong Conference Sydney. The conference was held at the Olympic Park (from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games) which was about a 30-40 minute commute from Bondi.
Conference was three and half days, Tuesday evening through Friday evening. On the first night we commuted via train and after getting lost, arrived at the Olympic Park 2 hours later.
The conference lasted from 9:30am-9:00pm with a 3 hour break from 3-6pm. Speakers included Steven Furtick, Casey Treat, Erwin McManus, Carl Lentz, Christine Caine, and Brian and Bobbie Houston (Hillsong Senior Pastors).
Two weeks ago two friends and I spent 8 days in Sydney, Australia and it was a life-changing experience. This was my first international trip and I can proudly say I’ve been bitten by the travel bug!
For the first time in my life I didn't travel with a hard-core itinerary (this was not my choice but it definitely helped me worked through my type A control issues). We knew which major sights we wanted to see but somewhat winged-it. Fellow planners and list makers - it was not the end of the world! I actually had a lot of fun.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1: 4-5)
In light of recent events I'm hurt and angry. I'm devastated by the divide in our country, in our cities, and in our streets. My heart breaks for all who are hurting - black and white, Christian and non-Christian, law enforcement and civilian. I weep for those who are lashing out and seeking revenge because they are so consumed by and lost in their pain.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. - Martin Luther King Jr.
