Jesus, be a Nail Tech with Solar Nail Gel

On my birthday, I posted a video and mentioned that I was letting go of solar nails (acrylic....same difference) because I wanted to allow my nails to breathe and be my authentic self.  My authentic self has short brittle nails and it drives me completely crazy sometimes.  For this reason, over the years I would get a nail overlay because my nails would not grow without this help. I decided to go with simple gel nail polish, so at least the color wouldn't chip away immediately.
After soaking off the solar overlay, we filed my original nails down and applied gel nail polish....so cute.  Although my nails are short, they look pretty because the polish is so vibrant.

You know that's not all though, right?

One day later, I picked something up and realized that my right index finger nail was bending a little too much.  Upon further inspection, I noticed that there was a small crack in the polish...NO two cracks!  One at the tip and one on the side....are you kidding me?!  Well I've been looking at those cracks for the last few days and even tried applying nail glue.  Well 30 minutes ago, it finally ripped.  It didn't break, nor did it chip.....it flat our RIPPED!  That's how brittle my nails are.  My 1st instinct???.....GET UP AND CALL THE NAIL SHOP FOR AN EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT!!!  What did I actually do (after a few choice words...."dog bite it")?.... I began to laugh.

What was so funny?  I just realized that I was being totally unrealistic.  I expected my natural nails to withstand all of the pressure that an acrylic overlay could withstand.  When in fact, my nails were never strong in the first place......I was simply covering them up.  Week after week, month after month, year after year I had been covering up my natural nails and pushing it off as if it were the "real thing".  In order for my natural nails to get stronger, I will have to regulate my diet, perhaps take a vitamin E pill and be certain that I wear gloves when I'm cleaning or washing dishes.
I have to take care of my nails and protect them if I want to see any growth!

But isn't that the same with everything??!!

So many times in our lives we send our "representative" when we are dealing with people and then after some time the "real you" comes out and scares everyone because we can no longer cover up our true identity.  We play "church pretty", yet will cuss someone out in a heartbeat if they cross us.  We put on fake smiles when we know that we are really crying and hurting inside.  We play the victim, because we enjoy the attention that it gives us without taking time to realize that there is actually a victor inside.

So my questions to you are...

What are you covering up?
Why are you covering it up?
What would actually happen if you decided to uncover it?

I will not insult you and say that it is going to be easy to uncover some things.  In fact, it will probably get worse before it gets better.  My nails are so brittle right now that they will probably continue to rip & tear until the nail root produces more nail cells and I allow the keratin (the protein which makes the nail hard) to do its job without any interference from the acrylic.  It might be a slooooowwwww process, but it will happen IF I nurture it.

It's the time and nurturing that will cause your dead situation to come alive again.  It's the nurturing of your mind with positive thoughts that will help you to see the "brighter side" of every circumstance.  Its the nurturing of your soul that will allow you to realize that you are connected to a God who wants to see you flourish. It's the nurturing of your body, through proper diet and exercise, which will allow you to lose those extra pounds.

At the end of the day, you must nourish your authentic self.  It's time to live from your core and not merely skim from the surface.  The core is where you find your connection with God.  If the core is healthy, chances are the outer expression of the core will be healthy...producing healthy relationships with yourself and others.

I invite you to check out the YouTube clip http://youtu.be/VYODJxKlOmY  of my birthday message and begin living your authentic self from the core.

Now walk it out......

(And quietly walk right past me, if in 2 weeks you see that I have acrylic nails again....don't judge me...it's a process!)

Sometimes it's better to walk alone

I enjoy walking our family dog, Arby and I think he enjoys it even more.  Since I've been more consistent with walking him daily, any time he sees me putting on sneakers, he gets really excited by wagging his tail and running to the door.  He equates gym shoes, work out pants and my fanny pack with going for a stroll.  A while ago, the Lord told me to use our walking time to pray and talk to Him.  This was great for me because it covered two objectives:  I was able to talk with the Lord and exercise, at the same time.

Well today,  I missed our early morning walk and it wasn't cool enough to take him out like I often do in the evening.  Around 3 pm, I couldn't wait any longer and needed to get outside and start moving.  I wanted to be alone and talk to God.  I have been waiting on a phone call for a few days and I was getting tired of checking my phone to see if I had missed a call.  (It was pretty pathetic. You know how it is when you are expecting someone to call, you know that you didn't hear the phone ring nor did you hear the notification from your text messaging or email. ) Periodically, I kept turning the phone over, pushing a few buttons only to come to the realization that I was tripping and the phone had never gone off.

I began to get a little annoyed at my own behavior and decided that I needed to unplug, so that I could reconnect. (You'll catch that later, I'm sure.)  Anyway, I told the boys that I was going for a walk WITHOUT Arby and I set out for my hike.  Since Byron was working at the church, I decided to walk to the church (about 15 blocks).  I walked, I sang, I prayed and praised God.  I remember Mommy telling stories about people walking in off the streets of Philadelphia just to come inside the Garden of Prayer Church to pray.  So I told the Lord, " I'm walking towards you".  Well wasn't I surprised when I turned the corner to the church and didn't see my husband's car. (A usual 3-minute drive turned out to be a 30 minute walk.)  When I called his phone, he was at the house sitting in the kitchen and was shocked when I called him because he thought I was in the bedroom.  Too funny!  We had missed each other!

Of course, he offered to come pick me up but I decided to walk back by myself.  Your girl was committed! I took a different path home, until I reconnected to the area where Arby and I usually walk.  It was at that time I realized that it was good that I had made this journey alone.  If the dog had been with me, he would have gotten tired and thirsty and would have slowed my pace.  He also would have drawn attention to us.  You know what it's like when one dog sniffs another dog's scent in the air...total chaos and loud barking.  Arby, although a good walking companion, would have been a distraction or hindrance to me.

I was encouraged that I had chosen the option of traveling alone.  That time was for me to clear my head, get away from my phones imaginary beeping, talk to God and not have to corral anyone along.  56 minutes later than when I had begun, I was stepping back onto my porch.... sweating, legs burning and thirsty BUT refreshed.

Let me encourage you to drop the dead weight and end the meaningless conversations.  It's great to have friends and people to share your thoughts, feelings and emotions with, BUT sometimes you can gain a better sense of clarity when you're all alone.  When it's just you and God...no excuses, no distractions, no opinions from others.  Had I been walking Arby, I would have missed my opportunity to be totally present in my heart, mind and soul.

Be comfortable with living in your own space.
Be confident with listening to your inner voice.
Be cautious of those who always want to be around you... they might actually be slowing you down.

Set your own pace and walk it out......(ALONE)

Just in the Nick of Time

I want to give you the lyrics to one of Mommy's songs:

Just wait on God, He'll be right there
Just wait on Him, be assured that He cares
Don't go ahead of Him, but don't fall behind
Just wait on God, He'll be right there......Just in the nick of time.

Whatever you've been asking God for... believe that it's already yours.  Your belief, however, does not dictate God's timing.  Part of the process is in the waiting!

While you wait...read, pray, confess and speak victory over your situation.

Be careful not to focus on what you don't have, but be thankful for ALL that you do have.

God has not forgotten about you and you have not lost His favor!  So hold your head up high, sit your shoulders back, release the tension in your neck, hold your stomach in, tuck your pelvis under and walk into the room as if you already have the victory. 

Confidence in God looks good on you!
Peace in the middle of a storm looks good on you!
A smile on your face looks good on you!
Joy in your spirit looks good on you!
A skip in your step looks good on you!
Your hands outstretched and raised in praise looks good on you!
The posture of humility on your knees before the Lord looks good on you!

My darling, regardless of what the situation looks like at this particular time, please remember:
You are the beloved of God and He's got you covered!

So wait on God and rest assured that He'll be right there...just in the nick of time.

Now walk it out.............no please excuse me........"strut your stuff!"

What God showed me on a ship, in the middle of the ocean

I have been waiting since Thursday to share this story with you, but I refused to since we were away on a family vacation.  I choose not to make posts or send pictures when the entire family is away from the house.  That's like me saying, "Hi Guys please break into my home while I'm thousands of miles away".  It's just not prudent! Now that we're back, I have so much to share with you. Here we go...

This past week, the Coleman family took a 5-day cruise.  Woohoo!  We had a wonderful time together.  We enjoyed the opportunity to rest, recharge and UNPLUG.  Because we didn't want to pay cell phone roaming charges, we opted to turn the phones off and be totally present.  Each of us had a walkie - talkie, so we could communicate throughout the day. (Now that was a hoot!)

One early morning, while my husband was still asleep, I decided to take my book on our cabin deck to sit and read for a little while. First I walked down to the breakfast area, got a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of orange juice, brought it back to the room, put my feet up on the balcony chair and began reading.  However, I was having difficulty concentrating on the words on the page because I was captivated by the soothing sounds of the ship piercing the water.  Though I initially fought the urge, I took my attention off of the book, stood up against the balcony railing and just began thinking about the greatness of God.  How could I be on a ship that weighs well over 100, 000 tons, carrying over 3,000 guests, floating in water that was 12,000 miles deep? I looked at the water and realized that I could not see the end of it.  The water just flowed and there was no end to it.  It was an amazing feeling to be in the middle of nowhere, realizing that God is everywhere and right there with me!  Mind blowing, I tell ya'!

As I looked out into the water, I was reminded of Eli's message, our cruise director, from the 1st night. He was trying to get us to understand where the front, middle and aft of the boat were located.  How could you tell which way you were going throughout the ship?  He said if you ever got turned around, simply look out into the water, and notice the flow of the water.  The water always flows toward the back of the ship, because the ship is moving forward.  It was joke that night, but it made complete since. That morning on that balcony, I realized something else.  I sat back down and watched the waters part as the ship cruised ahead.  There was never a time that the water wasn't moving, unless we were docking at one of the ports of call.  It was at that moment that God gave me this revelation to share with you.

Life is like the vast ocean.  Sometimes it's calm and other times the water is choppy and maybe even tumultuous.  Regardless of the condition of the water, the cruise ship moves THROUGH and parts the waters.  It made me think how God is like the ship carrying us through every situation.  God carries us through lay-offs, poor health, bad relationships, ugly situations and so much more. The ship was never overtaken by the water, but rather it simply forged ahead.  God made me realize that as long as He is carrying me, I would be alright.  Let's think for moment...Now if a storm had come, would I have put on my life vest and jumped overboard to swim on my own?  No way!  I would get closer to the core of the ship, back in the comfort of the cabin to be shielded from the rains.  Then why on earth do I try to fight life's battles on my own?  If God is navigating the ship, I must trust that He will protect me as I rest in Him.

As I was thinking all of this, I could feel the motion of the ocean and the boat rocking.  Not a scary type of rocking, but like a baby being cradled gently.  Before I knew it, I had been lulled to sleep, book lying on my chest and slobber coming out the side of my mouth.  God used the crashing of the water, to rock the ship, as it advanced ahead to put me to sleep.  The water never stopped... it kept flowing all around me...yet I was soothed into another state of being.

And that's what God is saying...

I can use your situation......divorce, pain, hurt, betrayal, sickness, no job, low money...whatever it is and use it to bless you.  Just because your faith is in God doesn't mean that trouble won't come.....it will come, I can guarantee this.  But what I do know is that even when the winds are blowing and life is tossing you around, God will envelop you, allow you to move THROUGH the situation and if you rest in Him, He will rock you in the cradle of His arms.  When the time comes, He will allow you to arrive at your port-of-call with a greater appreciation of who He is. We weren't able to see beautiful Cozumel or Progresso until we traveled through the vast ocean.  Sometimes you have to go THROUGH before you GET TO your destination.

What you're going through is not in vain,  there is a higher calling and God wants to show you some amazing things at the next port of call.  Just rest in Him and the ride will be much smoother.

Be encouraged, go to sleep and don't be tempted to jump overboard.  Your blessing will come at the end of the journey!

Now walk it out... (and put that life vest away)

Love is not spelled L-O-V-E....

    18 years ago today, I remember Byron and I standing before both of our pastors as they officiated our wedding ceremony.  I will never forget that my Pastor said that Love is not spelled L-O-V-E, but rather it's spelled W-O-R-K!  Apparently it stuck with Byron as well, because he uses it today in most of the wedding ceremonies which he performs.

     Today has been a GREAT day.  From Byron professing his love for me from the pulpit before the entire congregation, to us leaving the boys and sneaking away for evening appetizers, wine and dessert.  Just me and my Boo!  Talking about everything and nothing at all. Holding hands as we walked from the restaurant to the car and back.  Gently touching the small of my back as he corralled me through the restaurant to our seat. Holding my hips as I leaned in to kiss him.  Nothing special, no elaborate gifts...just the two of us living and loving in the moment.

     It's funny though when I think about it...every day of our 18 year marriage has not always been like today.  There were days that I wanted to be so far away from him, but I knew if I ran to my mother, she'd only send me right back.  There were days that both he and I were tired of the shenanigans and just wanted OUT.  There were days that we cried ourselves to sleep (he might say that he didn't cry) wondering, "was this what marriage was supposed to be about?".  There were days filled with issues and struggles and heartache, BUT through it all we made it to see this day.  It took W-O-R-K during those difficult times when we didn't necessarily see, nor feel the L-O-V-E.

     I'd like to encourage you today, if you've ever been in love, are in love right now or hope to one day find your Love, to be realistic while remaining hopeful. Let's talk about marriage and  L-O-V-E...

LOVE is more than a long stroll along the beach or boardwalk; sometimes it's a narrow street filled with potholes.
LOVE is more than clear blue skies; sometimes it's a grey sky filled with dark clouds and lots of tornadic activity.
LOVE is more than a medium rare steak, grilled asparagus with garlic mashed potatoes; sometimes it's a can of Spam and stale crackers.
LOVE is more than raising 2.5 children who are smart, athletic and outgoing; sometimes it's raising a child with special needs.
LOVE is more than driving a Range Rover or fancy car, sometimes it's a 'hooptie' that can only be entered through the passenger door.
LOVE is more than sitting on the front row, dressed in the finest clothes, looking "church pretty"; sometimes it's wearing overhauls, working under the hood of a car with dirt and grease under your fingernails.
LOVE is more than a passion-filled night of intimacy and pleasure, sometimes it's sitting by the  hospital bed praying for God to allow the treatment to work this time.

     Love is W-O-R-K!  Love has to be honest and realistic.  Love has to be understanding and forgiving.  Love is ever evolving and transforming itself as you grow as a couple and an individual.  Love does not rush to judgment too quickly.  Love is seeking professional help and counseling, so you can be a better spouse.  Stop saying "I know the Lord is going to work it out".  Yes, He can work it out, but you must participate in your own liberation.  When you got married, you didn't ask Jesus to meet the caterer, pick out the cake, go to the dress fitting and order invitations..........#jesusbeaweddingplanner.  So why on earth should we sit around today waiting on Jesus to "fix it" when He has given us the ability to seek counseling, see a financial planner, go to the gym to lose that extra weight or be a little more adventurous in the bedroom?  WHY people????

YES...God designed marriage, but it's up to us to work the marriage!

Again, I am so grateful to God for allowing me to know Byron for 24 years and to spend 18 years of marriage with him. In order for us to spend the next 18 plus years together, we must continue to do the work and W-O-R-K it in L-O-V-E!

So I encourage you to love real hard and do it on purpose!  I can almost promise that if you are honest with yourself, do the work, while seeking God's direction, your marriage can be revived, restored and the flame rekindled.

I close by telling the LOVE of my life, 'Happy Anniversary Sweetheart'.  I'm reminded of a Kurt Carr song that says,

"For every mountain, He brought me over 

For every trial, He's seen me through

For every blessing, Hallelujah

For this I give you praise."

And yes I'm praising God that He blessed me with a wonderful man who is a doting husband, loving father, dynamic leader, great listener and loyal friend.  We made it this far by faith and I am willing to work the work, so that our love continues to grow.

Whether you are married and in love, want to fall in love, thinking about loving somebody, preparing yourself for love....you must first be willing to Love yourself first and be ready to do the WORK when you have the opportunity to share your LOVE with someone else.

Now walk it out...

Follow me on Twitter @soul2soledoctor

SURRENDER....and go take a seat Ma'am / Sir...it's not about you!

This morning I posted this message on Facebook:

Free yourself from your past and live in the moment! 

You won't get very far if your head is constantly on a swivel.

 Eyes forward, heart lifted, mind made up and moving forward!

I thought that was going to be all, but of course, in God-like fashion, He urged me to share the "back story" with you.

I wrote last month about how God gave me permission to leave my office job.  To do what?, you ask.  I still don't know, but I am working and waiting as the plan is slowly being revealed.  Before I left though, I created folders and files for the next person who is to replace me.  (Just to help make the transition a little smoother.)

I must admit though that I have been saying, that God took away my passion for the position so He could take me to the next level.  This morning I received a revelation though..... perhaps God took away my passion for the position because He intends to take it to the next level through someone else.  Though I did GREAT work and was quite innovative, perhaps God needed to move me out of the way to get that work done and to bless the next individual.

OUCH! For real God??!! That stings!

Sometimes we think that things happen to us and for us because God is going to bless us beyond measure.  But what if it's not even about you? (and most things aren't) What if God really needs us out of the way because it's time to bless the next individual. (Maybe they are the one who is "next in line for a miracle"...in my Shirley Caesar voice.)   What if He just needed us to prepare the way?
I'm reminded of the scripture that says,

1 Corinthians 3:6-8 --> ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

 Interpretation please?!

The bottom line is that it doesn't matter who God uses to get His work accomplished.  The point is that the work will get accomplished and God will still get the glory.  So stop tripping!!!

That former job, that past relationship, your ideas that you put on the table, the connections that you made, the great job that you did was all wonderful and is a part of God's plan.  You may have planted the seed or maybe you were the next person who came along and watered the seed...but only God can actually make the seed grow.  So get over yourself and be just be available to be used.  Then when it's over, walk away with a smile on your face, knowing that you did YOUR part.   

This was so real for me this morning that it brought me to tears, while I was driving my car.  In my own egotistical self-righteous mindset, I was actually looking to get credit for all I had done.  But my spirit man awakened in me and told me to be humble, realizing that I was simply an instrument that God chose to use during a particular season.  That season of my life is over and it's a good thing! 

Just like we have four natural seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall.....God doesn't intend to keep us locked into one thing.  The winter has to surrender the cold, so the spring can bring forth tiny buds on the trees.  The spring has to surrender the rainy season, so the flowers can blossom in the summer.  The summer has to surrender the heat, so the coolness of the fall can flow through.  The fall has to surrender it's colorful leaves, so the winter can storm through and freeze everything over, just to start the cycle over again with a fresh, clean slate.  No season is better than the other.. each is different!

So I will end, with how I began the day:  Free yourself from your past and live in the moment! 

Appreciate where you are right now and always be ready to be moved into your next season.  No apologies, no excuses, just surrender.  Because once you surrender your will, God has a way to bless you right where you are ( probably because you are now humble enough to realize that this whole thing is NOT about you).

Side note:  After I cried and surrendered my feelings and emotions, I received a call from someone who wanted to move a meeting up with me.  I think it was just a tiny reminder from God that, "if you move yourself out of My way, I can bless you and blow your mind".

I encourage you to get out of your own way, recognize that you are a PART of God's plan and not the entire plan, surrender your season and walk it out....

 

On the Rooftop with God

At 6 am, I found myself lying flat on my back, looking up into the sky, recognizing the immensity of God.  I was invited to attend spiritual yoga on a restaurant rooftop, by a sweetheart of a friend/sister and I felt right at home.  I love nature and relishing in the beauty of God's creation, so it was rather reassuring to realize that there was nothing hindering my connection to God and the vast twilight sky.

The instructor didn't necessarily whisper, but she proclaimed the word of the Lord boldly and with passion, as soft music played in the background.  If you know anything about how the body works, you know that it takes time for your muscles to relax.  You can make a sudden movement and your muscle oftentimes counteracts that move which further tightens the muscle.  However if you slow down, release and stretch, you will notice that the muscle fibers will eventually relax and lengthen.  It was during those times that the instructor would offer to us that we should release whatever is keeping us back from recognizing the love of God.  As those muscles in my back and hamstrings were releasing, I was in the process of surrendering my will to the Father.

The scripture that she continuously referenced this morning was, Luke 12:32:

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Simply put, God takes pleasure in sharing His love, forgiveness, joy and peace with you.  He is not sitting back in judgment throwing all of your mistakes in your face.  He loves you and wants what is best for you.  It reminds me of how I treat my boys...... I want them to be successful, productive, humble leaders and it warms my heart when I see them doing things that will point them in that direction.  But even if they don't do what I'd like, I don't throw them away.....I place a gentle hand or speak a word that will guide them back to the right path.  I am patient with them and God is patient with me!

This means that I can rest in Him and be patient with myself as each of those muscles, or strongholds or dilemmas or issues are fully released. I don't have to walk in fear or condemnation, I walk in confidence because I know that it warms God's heart to give me exactly what I need.

I encourage you today to find a park bench, a little plot of grass, a rooftop, an open window, a beach or any place that calms you down and brings you joy.  Then look up into the Heavens, observe the beauty of nature and relax in Him.

Now walk it out......