Category: Self Help

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2021 is Winding Down

Only a few more weeks to find out the true transformation that has taken place during this year.

What have the trials produced? It is really true that hard things that we go through will make us stronger in the long run. Even if it’s not something that we want to hear or even think about. Life is just not always going to be smooth and easy on this earth.

Some seasons will be smoother and more joyful and others will feel like trudging through quicksand. One thing is for sure, they both pass. They do move on to the next season.

It was quite unbelievable that today there were several “suddenly” things that happened. Like several things that were just amazing miracles. An auto that had been sitting in the back yard that sold. A grandchild that had been suffering a heart defect healed. My husband told by the Veteran’s Administration that they were doing a back pay on all money that he had spent on medication back to a certain point! And last, all of his tests came back great after having Covid earlier this year.

Last week I was seriously starting to feel like things were getting hopeless. That is ALWAYS a lie! Things are NEVER hopeless, no matter what! The battle is usually in our mind and lies that we believe. If we are not feeling well, we are a little more vulnerable for falling for lies. Falling into negativity is a slippery slope.

There are many things to look forward to in our lives. Picking out the word for 2022 is something I look forward to. That’s a tradition for me… I’m thinking about my word now but haven’t settled on it 100% yet. One thing that I do know is that Marty and I have been reinvented this year and the main thing is eating more healthy. I think we’ve had some mindset changes also. We’ve had many things be a SLOW process when we would have liked to move a little faster… that’s okay though….sometimes:

I remember about thirty years ago hearing Joyce Meyers husband making that remark at one of her conferences and it stuck in my mind.

That has seemed to be a true statement this year about many things. I don’t think I have ever had this certain thing hit home as much as it has this year. It’s seemed like all of the things that used to work in the past changed and there were new rules to the game and I had to adjust.

I am adjusting and I am moving forward. One thing that I will not choose to be and that is stuck. Whatever I have to go through to be unstuck will work for me.

The next few weeks I’m praying and seeking my word for 2022 and I’m dreaming about the days ahead and seeing what God wants to happen in my life next year. I’m closing out the transforming that took place in 2021 and I’m grateful for the wonderful miracles that all happened in one day this week.

•We never know what can all turn around in just one day!

•We can’t listen to lies in our mind…we have to fight for truth!

•Reach out and talk to someone if you are sinking, we are never really alone!

•Do you have a word for 2022? Sort of a theme for your life next year?

•There is ALWAYS hope no matter what!

•I’m here if you need me!

See ya’ll next week!

jill🌸

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Re-invent

When I picked that word for this year I felt highly inspired by God to do it. He must have been thinking that it was time to shake things up a bit.

Hebrews 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e]27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

What this says to me is that sometimes things have to be shaken up to get rid of what needs to change. I am not saying in any way that God brings bad things upon us. No way! God is good, loving, kind in every way… He is LOVE. He handles us like we are HIS children. If we have to shake a piece of candy out of a child’s hand sometimes it’s not so pretty. He’s teaching us to hold onto everything with open hands.

The first really big shakeup was in May when Marty came down with Covid and had to go into the hospital. He was very sick. He was a very healthy vibrant person before he got this virus. It was unbelievable to watch him deteriorate. Days and days of 103 temp. Going to hospital only to get sent home the first time. More days of 103 and returning to hospital almost gone from the earth. He did have an amazing miracle in the hospital after five days. Gold came into the room and his lungs started popping like Rice Krispies. He was home in two days.

He came home on oxygen and was still very ill. I had to fight for my faith at that time to know that it would finally pass. I was taken back to the thing that I have learned all my life… it’s a process.

Yes, it’s been a process…it’s lead me to do things that I wouldn’t have normally done before. Do things that I feel led to do even though he doesn’t. It’s made me have to “Let Go and Let God more,” and practice the things that I’ve learned in recovery.

I took two trips this year, one to my Lemongrass Spa business conference in Orlando which was wonderful. Just a small time later to visit our daughter’s family and five grandkids. It was there that I noticed a personality change in Marty. He was not the same as he was before. Could he be being “reinvented?” Could I also be?

We got home and things went well, it felt good to be home. I joined in something that I felt very called to do at my church and had been waiting for my whole life. He didn’t want to commit to it. He was behind me doing it, but he wasn’t ready. You know what? That’s ok. It takes time to get over being that sick and Marty and I were in a process! I even realize as I’m writing this that his strength is still not 100% yet and it takes time for some things.

The biggest blessing happened in October when we got to go with my brother to Arlington Cemetery and see my dads funeral. It was such a surreal experience. It really touched Marty’s heart because he had also been in the army and has been walking out transformation from PTSD.

As soon as we arrived at Washington D.C. I got the call that my mom had fallen and was being taken to the hospital. They went ahead the next day and saw some sites and I spent my time in a hotel room finding care for my mama. They X-rayed her and no broken bones. Two weeks and much pain later she went to another hospital to find two fractures in her back. This all was lots to process! Could I be being reinvented?

Then a young man that I hadn’t known very long was cleaning a gun and accidentally lost his life. He was only 13 and turned 14 on my birthday. Just a day or so after the tragedy. This has changed our community of believers. Could we all be being reinvented?

My mom is still in rehab and slowly, slowly starting to walk with much help. I’m sure she’s getting tired of not being able to go home for so long. She seems to do well a few days and then not be able to do the physical therapy for a few days. More process going on. We have had to go in and find her clothes after laundry and get them all back into her room. We have had to personally talk to nurses and beg them to shower her. We’ve had to call a talk to the Alliance in our region to help get her the care there that she is supposed to be getting. All new territory for me.

Then the last thing…I had been on medication for an infection and at the tenth day my fever shot up to 102.5 and stayed all night. I went to urgent care and got tested for everything and they gave me a strong antibiotic shot plus sent me home with strong antibiotics. In a few hours no fever…went home and rested. That night fever again so I decided to go to the ER. Tests all came back great. In the meantime I start getting texts from my ex husband that he is getting all my bills from anything medical, what? I don’t even know what his address is? Ok just like always in my life… I have to trust something bigger and more powerful than me to deal with all of this….

What is being reinvented in me? Time will tell when the process is over. But I do know that it led me back to sitting still and writing. Letting my voice be heard, and digging deeper. It’s almost time to pick a word for next year and I think my word for next year will be “Peace!”

Numbers 6:24 to 26

24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’

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Perspective Can Rescue You

What if I would tell you that you can train your mind to think the right things? Yes, I probably have already told you this before.

It just keeps getting hit home to me loud and clear and that’s why I have to remind people about it every once in a while!

This can sound very fluffy and simple but it is VERY deep. It means everything! Our mind and our thinking directs and leads many of our other actions.

Let’s say we go through a trauma and our mind is telling us to react to it and shut down our whole life and give up. Is that what we do? Or do we rise up against what our mind is telling us and refuse to cave and instead make something positive out of what we went through.

I believe that is what we were really created to do, use the thing we went through as an example and a story to help others overcome.

I can’t even tell you all of the wild things that have been like a common occurrence in my life. I chose along time ago to not have a “poor pitiful me” attitude about it. I chose to dig deep, fight through all of my issues, and use them to help others.

Many people want to have pride and hide in shame the things that have happened to them. It doesn’t make us bad because things have happened to us! Most of them are not our fault and have nothing to do with us! It’s just things that happen in this fallen world.

We can train our mind to do anything and the rest of our body follows. I’m not going to say that we don’t get stunned a bit or shocked or hurt! But once we work through all the emotions that go with it, which is a normal process, we move on and use it as a story and example to help others.

It’s not such a huge, big thing that ruins our life forever then. It can keep us from physical problems and many other calamities and chaos.

We don’t need to hide from things or run from them in denial. We learn to:

Sounds easy doesn’t it? It’s lots easier than carrying a bunch of baggage around and hiding from it! Learn to let it go and just use the story to help others!

I’m not telling you that life is easy all the time, I’m just telling you that if you think it’s easy it will be! If you need help sorting through some of life’s traumas and emotions get ahold of me! I’ve been through so much that it became a hobby and a passion for me to help others!

These are my three books if you would like to learn more about this! Remember….You and God have this together! He can help you get out of any mess! I know because I’ve experienced it!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075RR686Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_mH6SFbX0A7Q32 🌸first book🌸

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CB7VVK7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_AN6SFbA8XQR36 🌸second book🌸

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081DJRM9Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_pP6SFbBFGR6K6 🌸third book🌸

Face it!

Feel it!

Forget it!

You can move on!

There’s a purpose for it all!

🌸love you, ~jill🌸

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Fan the Flame

This is referring to the gift that is within you. We each have been placed unique gifts inside of us that need to be used in the earth.

We have to take action to keep it alive because there is always opposition coming to shut it down and quiet that voice.

I have had to go to great lengths to fight for my voice being heard and I can’t say that it has been fully accomplished yet. I haven’t quite found the correct delivery of what I’m trying to present to people.

Life experiences help me out and I may grab ahold of it for a bit but it can be fleeting. My main thing is to make it a point that we cannot always listen to human beings for direction we have to be tapped into a higher being which is God to me.

The thing that taints what I am saying is religion. Religion has given God a bad rap. It’s represented Him so differently than He really is. It’s one of the things that has shut my mouth more than anything else.

I have to be very cautious to stay in contact with my God and not get in the wrong lane. Strong opinions and controlling attitudes can flood over that still small voice like an avalanche.

Lately I’ve been very blessed to have some people in my path that have been able to latch on to what I’m saying because they are not indoctrinated so strongly.

We know a tree by it’s fruit. If someone does not help produce good fruit in our life they are not the tree that we need to sit under.

We really need relationship with someone before they can speak truth into our lives. I took a personality test one time and a slogan that goes along with my personality is:

Yep that’s me and my personality and the way my Heavenly Father created me! He has given me the ability to believe in people that no one else can believe in. With My God Nothing is impossible! Nothing! I have lived it!

You tell me that someone is beyond repair and I will do everything I can to help them make it happen. I have had to learn through much trial and error that we cannot help someone that is determined to stay the same! We have to let go!

I will keep fanning the flame to keep my voice being heard! That means that I have to fight to be heard! That might mean that you need to fight to be heard too!

Keep on keeping on!

With God you’ve got this!

Let us know if we can help!

If no one else has told you they love you today “I Love you!”

~jill🌸~

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578604434/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_btf_t1_IMxMFbQC4A4W9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

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Getting unstuck

This seems like it’s been the longest year to me. So many ups and downs and all around. I have felt like a spectator lately just watching things.

It’s not that we haven’t had very exciting things going on, it’s just that I haven’t had lots to say about it all!

We have had the most fun ministering to people lately and watching the surprise barter gifts that they come up with to present to us! It’s also been a good practice for me to learn to receive.

In my last book Shift Happens: Restored to Bloom—available here👇🏻

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578604434/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_btf_t1_n2VJFb4BNBXR2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I shared lots about sowing seeds and how that can produce a new harvest in our lives. I know that I gave and gave and I have received a harvest that I would have never expected in all my days! When I wrote that last book I had only received part of it and it just keeps rolling in.

In the way of new connections, new ministry, and new opportunities in all ways.

I’m not saying that everyday is just peachy and flows very easily, there are hard days and times in life. The major breakthroughs come through anyway and override the hard times!

I have joy deep in my soul no matter what is going on! It is well with my soul! I am so grateful! All of these positive emotions help bring positive changes and attract positive things to our lives.

We have to forgive.

We have to love.

We have to stop judgments.

We have to sow good things.

We have to be open and teachable.

When we truly have a healed heart, Faith, Hope, and Love remain in us!

We are available for help and accountability…if you need it let us know!

You got this!

You can move forward!

Much love to you❣️

~jill~🌸