This Weeks #SongSunday is off the new Lauren Daigle album again. “You Say” is a great song to remind us what God says about us.
So stop letting the enemy put lies in your head and tell him it’s time to get outta my head!
Month September 2018
Book Link
To order my books just head over to Amazon
There you will find all 9 of my books.
If you have a book – leave info in the comments. I love to support other authors.
Be Blessed! XXOO Michelle Bollom
Feature Friday – Melody Barker
Which Side Will You Shop?
What do you fill the silence with?
Have you ever heard yourself say “I’m a mess, I’m horrible with directions, I’m fat, I’m a terrible cook?” The things that we fill the silence with can be really ugly.
Without realizing it, we go shopping for how we feel about ourselves each day.
Imagine yourself at the center line of a road and there are two brick and mortar stores on either side. These stores won’t take cash or credit, but you purchase anything in them that you agree with and believe.
Close your eyes and picture the shop owners. Do you see a devil on one side and an angel on the other? You might picture yourself with wings and a halo or horns and pitch fork.
I see a little me on my left and she’s having an amazing hair day. She’s wearing workout clothes and looking fit. She’s super excited to see me and says she has some great stuff I’m going to love. We’re going to call her store A’Me’zing.
On my right the shop owner is wearing baggy pants and a messy bun. She’s offering a huge welcoming smile and a chocolate chip cookie, because she gets me. Let’s call her store Messy Me, and let’s go inside and look around.
Everything on the shelves and racks in this store is guaranteed to keep me firmly planted where I am. In this shop I will find boxes full of excuses not to exercise and tons of elastic pants to keep me comfortable while I don’t.
I’ll find ceilings, limits and barriers to keep me from even attempting to rise up. There is an entire department of old wounds I can revisit for those times that nothing is actually causing me pain right now.
And oh, those wooden signs that everyone loves with the words painted in white – the walls in this place are covered with everything I’ve ever taken offense to. It’s all so familiar I could stay here forever. If only I had the clarity to realize that everything Messy Me was selling is garbage – I would walk out her door. I don’t need that trash taking up retail space in my mind… but it does.
Every human interaction has two parts – logic and emotion. While some people tend to gravitate toward one of those two, there is one that makes a lasting impression. Emotion cuts deeper into our memories – every time. That’s why we remember September 11th like it was yesterday; It’s why I still know right where I was standing when I was 11 and my grandmother left telling me that she would always be my grandmother.
If you mentally walk into that brick and mortar store and try on an emotion from the past, take a look in the mirror at who you are now. See that this old rag doesn’t fit quite right anymore and take it off.
Leave it behind and let’s go shop across the street.
When I step into A’Me’zing, I feel invincible. Confidence comes in all sizes here.
A’Me’zing has a fragrance counter where I can mist myself with motivation.
Wait? Am I floating? I could swear I’m 15 lbs lighter in here.
The background noise in the shop is audio of my favorite memories. There is wall to wall ambition and productivity like I’ve never seen before. Every piece of clothing is adorned with rhinestones spelling out words of the kind things that people have said about me.
The decorations on the shop walls are all images of times in my life that I’ve felt beautiful. And by the register is a little sign: “A’Me’zing has a full satisfaction guarantee”. Wow! Why don’t I shop here every day?
Why don’t you shop here every day?
~ Kim Weingart
Which Side Will You Shop?
You Can’t Sprint Through Grief
May Jesus give you time and space to feel your hurts, heal your wounds, and grieve your losses.
May He lead you beside still waters and restore your soul.
May He bring you friends who love you right where you are.
May you refuse to be cynical or jaded; instead, may you dare to dream again, right in the midst of the pain you’re in.
Don’t be afraid of lament.
You can’t sprint through grief.
But avoid self-pity like the plague.
You don’t need pity.
You have the promises of God!
You have the presence of God!
And He still has a powerful purpose for you.
You won’t stay in this valley.
You’re just passing through.
One honest step at a time.
You’ll get through it, and you’ll be stronger on the other side.
You can do this.
God bless you, dear one. ~ Fenich Jerry
Enhance
Worthy Thought: Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere. ~David Thoreau
¡Buen Diá!
Photo taken by Angela Lipe-Pattengill
01/07/2018 La Antiqua Guatemala
Experience The Victory
“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” ~ Psalms 59:16 ESV
Some of us are facing battles. Maybe it’s a scary time, or a time of uncertainty.
We can’t do life without God hoping for a victory. We have to do life with him so we can experience the victory!
Let us be reminded that the Lord is our comfort and strength. He offers us a safe place outside of the storm.
He is tranquility
He is peace.
Find rest in him today.
~ Baring His Beauty,
Tiffany Thomas
Journey Of Becoming
Many started this journey of becoming
My set apart bride
Then gave up half way
Like Orpah you never heard
what they had to say
The Ruth’s didn’t back down
When pain knocked on their doors
They saw it as an invitation
to go higher and deeper with their King
They didn’t listen when the enemy
begged them to stay
Familiarity wanted to keep them in chains
They preferred to walk the path unknown
They had places to go
They had giants to slay
Territories to take in
Valuable lessons to learn
They held fast to Papa’s promises and dreams
Defended it with their lives
Gave birth to faith without boundaries
They weren’t moved by others
opinions of them
They were desperate to be
One with their King
Worked tirelessly
To gather the spoils
Now it is time to rejoice and to sing
In the background away
from all eyes
They were trained under
the watchful eye of their King
Beautified on the fields of despair
Don’t you dare keep them locked in
They are meant to be free
They have paid a high price
They walked through the wilderness
The blazing hot sun
Tasted defeat
Yet the calling on their lives
would not let them settle
For anything less than Papa’s best
This journey of purification and separation
stripped them to the core
They never allowed despair to move in
Old mindsets were broken
Hearts were set free
They stepped out to embrace
the unfamiliar
Became My bride
while still in mourning
They knew they had to move by My spirit
Greater things were waiting
outside of their comfort zone
A love story of becoming My set apart bride
A King and His endless love for His daughters
A covenant sealed with His blood
That will echo through eternity
Only because the Ruth’s chose to embrace
every dream their King had for them.
~ Ebigale Wilson
Journey Of Becoming
The Journey
Everything I Need
This weeks #SongSunday is by Lauren Daigle off her album Look Up Child. The song is Everything. Enjoy!
God And Man Talk About Driving
God created the world and man and before – even Tom Cochrane, the Lord said, “this Life IS a Highway, sure to make you lose your mind. But not to worry, I have equipped you with gifts, and free will. Do as the Eagles advise and Take It easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.
On this earth you and all of the creatures, even the Beatles have a Ticket to Ride.” And just like that man was hungry for the journey. Immediately he took off – with Meatloaf, like a Bat Out of Hell. On a dark desert highway, man listened to the Eagles all the way to Hotel California. He and Chuck Berry got their kicks going west and east on Route 66, but over time man learned, just like ACDC had, that he might be on a Highway to Hell.
Man was exhausted. If he was heading to where he should be, why was it so draining at times? Man cried out, “I Drove All Night, Lord. I drove all night, just like Roy Orbison. He got an amazing talent, fame and money. All I got was lost, and my back hurts. It isn’t fair. Here I am, I Wallflower with One Headlight. But there’s got to be an opening somewhere here in front of me, through this maze of ugliness and greed. I’m just deflated, Lord, straight out of gas.”
The Lord replied, “slow down there Prince. You’re like a Little Red Corvette; moving too fast. Your life is not a Drive By, to be seen from the window of a Train. Every time you are On the Road Again, you are never alone. Whether you hear the voice of Willie Nelson, or Bob Seger, it is always me who is with you.”
Man looked again toward the Beatles and he asked the Lord, “maybe you can Drive My Car? Jesus, Take the Wheel like you did for Carrie Underwood!” Man pleaded, “Be like Melissa Ethridge and say to me ‘You Can Sleep While I Drive’. I’ll go wherever you take me, Lord. You know best for me so I’ll just park myself right here and wait for you.”
“Child”, the Lord said, “I am the ruler of your spirit. You must guide your flesh throughout this world but we are better together. Lean into my spirit that resides within you. You always Ride Wit Me, like Nelly rides with City Spud. No more whining or excuses. Just Drive, like The Cars. Drive like Alan Jackson. Shut Up & Drive, like Rihanna. Take this Journey – Faithfully, because I will always have faith in you.
~ Kim Weingart
Restored People Community 