Braveheart

1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

I think the hardest thing to recover from is heartbreak. After you’ve been hurt, its hard to love again because fear is present. Fear brings back memories of past pain. Fear reminds you. Fear encourages isolation. Fear discourages you. Fear fuels doubt. To love again, requires you to push back your emotions. To love again, requires you to trust again. To love again, requires you to believe again. To love again, requires you to have a braveheart. You do have a braveheart. You have been given the ability to forgive and forget, and to love again. You have a braveheart that heals itself. You have a braveheart that’s waiting on you.

Reset

Don’t you wish you could go back and press the reset button on certain moments in your life? Kinda like a do-over. Not really regret, but I could have made a better decision. Well, maybe its just me. I definitely feel that way. Maybe I spoke too soon or I moved too fast. I definitely have a few of those situations. We can’t change the past, but we can learn from it. We can choose to do things differently. We can reset our path every time we change our mind. Everyday is a new day to get it right. Every moment is an opportunity to reset.

Seize the Moment

We don’t always recognize the “moments” in our life until they pass. We can only hope that they were captured in a photograph and not just a memory. Everyday is filled with “moments.” Everyday is filled with opportunities and chances that could lead us in a different direction. When we are faced with life-changing decisions, those are the moments we should seize. Sometimes, you don’t need to weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes, you just need to take that leap of faith. Sometimes, you just need to lean in for that kiss. Sometimes, you just need to seize the moment.

Shift

Change doesn’t come easy. It requires us to do things differently, and think differently. It messes up our routine. It takes a little while to get used to before it becomes our “new normal.” Interesting enough, change is always happening. The Earth shifts. The wind blows. The seasons change. Its continual. Yet we act like change is sudden. There are often signs of a shift, but we ignore them. Get ready. Transition is God's way of helping us get ready for the shift that is coming.

Behold

“Behold, I am with you…” This phrase occurs several times in the bible. It seems that everytime God was trying to get someone's attention or show them something specific he used the word, “behold.” Behold means to observe or see. What are the reoccuring themes in your life? How is God trying to get your attention? What do you need to behold in your life? Behold what God is doing. Behold your blessings. Behold your new opportunities. Behold your circumstances. Behold yourself. Behold your gifts and talents. Behold your God.

Beyond Limits

Mary J. Blige is like the Aretha of my generation. She has been credited with being the “Queen of Hip Hop Soul.” Her song, Love No Limit debuted in 1993. I was all of eleven and a half years old belting out the lyrics as if I had any clue of what love with no limit really meant. Funny thing is I’m on the verge of being thirty-eight and love still has limitations for some. We love with conditions. We love based on contractual agreements. We love based on arrangements. We love based on feelings. We love based on convenience. However, God’s love is our example of what real love should look like in our lives. God’s love is beyond limits.

Moved

The Book of Psalms references not being moved or shaken. It describes a tree planted by rivers, and God being a rock and salvation. We live in a world that promotes fleeting emotions, and we find ourselves rooted in nothing. Our foundations are unsure because we don’t believe in anything. What was the last thing you felt so strongly about that you could not be moved or shaken? How grounded are you? What do you believe? Are you planted or placed? Is God really your rock and salvation? Be strong and of courage. Don’t be moved.