I would have lost heart...yet again

I would have lost heart...when I had to fight for 3.5 years with the Honda dealership over prepaid maintenance that I paid for but was charged each and every time I came in (11 times), unless I believed that if I was patient and kept sticking to the documents and asking for resolution, I would win and the situation would get resolved in my favor.

I would have lost heart...when I got bitten by dogs, over a span of 10 years, 3 different times, from my landlord when I was renting, to two guys walking at the track where I work out often, to an event at my employee's house in her backyard; particularly because I was injured each time and incurred medical bills ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, for something that was not my fault each and every time, unless I remember that not everyone will do unto others what they want done unto them and take care of a moral and financial obligation.

I would have lost heart...when I had hives for nearly 2 Years, unable to figure out what was causing them after multiple tests, products, medications, creams, injections, and every alternative medical treatment under the sun, unless I believed that if continued to keep a food journal, paid attention to my body, was loving and kind to myself during these episodes which they traveled all over my body, that eventually I would learn and uncover the cause.

I would have lost heart...when a client hit me in the head twice for stating a fact about the work I was doing and our contract agreement, unless I believed that God would use this in my life to help me heal by opening up and doing counseling about the years of childhood abuse and this would start the beginning of my transformational journey.

I would have lost heart...when my credit card company posted my $2,000 payment as a $2,000 charge and put a hold on my credit card for 2 weeks while they researched it, unless I believed that if I was patient and asked for leadership to intervene, the issues would get resolved much more quickly.

I would have lost heart in all these things and more...unless....

Unless, I choose to walk in the truth of keeping no record of wrongs.

Unless, I choose to forgive.

Unless, I choose to live out what grace looks like.

Unless, I choose to be relentless in my pursuit of excellence.

Unless, I choose to have the grit and mental discipline to live a life full of love.

Yesssssss...unless I create my own power of choice and free will to be an overcomer and not a victim.

...I would have despaired and lost heart, unless I had not believed! ~ Psalm 27:13 AMP
#TheSassyVoice #DontQuit #KeepTheFaith #GodsPlan #HaveFaith #Believe

I would have lost heart...again...and again...

I would have lost heart...when I got diagnosed with Moderately Severe Depression February 2017, unless I believe this would help me learn more about myself and help me love myself more.

I would have lost heart...when I didn't have the strength to do my everyday chores, due to endless fatigue and sleepless nights, unless I believe that I can have gratitude in all things was something I could actually do and not just a good idea to implement or talk about.

I would have lost heart...when I gave $23k to a Girlfriends Non-Profit to fund projects I am passionate about after my 1st Mission Trip, leaving $300 in my Business Checking Account, cutting me out of her life with no chance of discussion, reconciliation, forgiveness, unless I believe that true love never fails and that this doesn't have to be just left to Jesus.

I would have lost heart...when I was questioned in a deposition about forging someone's signature unless I had a clear conscious and knew I had never forged anyone's signature at any time ever in my whole life and somehow God would have the truth be exposed.

I would have lost heart...when I decided to terminate my Medical Billing Services after being in the Industry for 20 Years and it being one of the main sources of revenue in my business for almost 13 Years, unless I believed that God was working out a better plan for me to have less stress in my life, even if that meant not having any discretionary income and even having to implement a very tight budget which meant no monthly travel like I've done the last 2 Years.

I would have lost heart...when people criticize what I post on Facebook and don't try to learn my perspective, don't see my heart, don't want to love even in disagreements, don't appreciate my vulnerability and desire to create connection, unless I knew that to make a ripple effect like Jesus means you won't be liked or be received much of the time and that the truth is that God is asking me to follow Him, not you.

I would have lost heart...in ALL of these things and more, unless I believed that when you experience a breakdown this allows you to fully have a breakthrough, to more fully grow into a deeper, courageous, beautiful and loving person if you let it.

...unless.

Unless, I believed God would be faithful to complete His work in me.

Unless, I believed God would help me get through this too.

Unless, I believed I could hold on and find strength to whether this storm, pain and challenge.

Unless, I believed that I would become stronger by all that I am facing.

Yesssssss...

...I would have despaired and lost heart, unless I had not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord! ~ Psalm 27:13 AMP

#TheSassyVoice #DontQuit #KeepTheFaith #GodsPlan #HaveFaith #Believe

the process of becoming new

The Cross is a symbol of becoming NEW in Christ.

This means there is a process to letting go of old ways, old stories, old behaviors, old thoughts, old feelings, old experiences, old beliefs.

To create new means you have to Stop. Undo. Change. Release. Transition. Create or Build. Embrace. Focus.

This week it has become clear to me there is still too much from the "old" that is still a part of my life. Too many things trying to still attach themselves to my life. Some things that I haven't released that need to be released for appropriate growth. There is a need for further pruning. More onion layers to be uncovered and removed. Necessary Endings that need to take place for New Beginnings to even start. More focus on New Chapters.

Sometimes we don't know what all these revelations are to us as we go into ourselves and uncover the still small voice inside of us. Sometimes the answers that come throughout our day aren't where we think we are going to get them. Sometimes the ways God shows up in our lives to put the pieces together leave us in awe.

But it is our choice on how we will work with the old and create the new. It is our choice whether we embrace it or fight it. God gives us a free will. But if we seek Him, He will guide us.

I will be focusing on what all this means and how to implement it. But I am determined to forge ahead. Removing those things that hold me back. Pressing on towards the mark that God has set for my journey. Not wavering in my faith. Rising up when I am taken down. Continuing on in dignity, strength, without fear of the future. In laughter. Focused on taking the next step to press on to be who I am called to be.

It is a journey. It is a process. I welcome this New Chapter.
#TheSassyVoice #NewBeginnings #NewChapter #HaveFaith #StaySTrong #RiseUp #DontQuit #OutWithTheOld #InWithTheNew

how is your faith journey?

The journey of life takes faith.  

It takes faith to uncover your next step.  It takes faith to be willing to ask for help.  It takes faith to be disciplined to do the things you know to do.  It takes faith to say no to the things that aren't meant for you in this chapter.  It takes a faith to stay focused, strong, and persevere through every season that comes your way.  It takes faith to take care of your body.  It takes faith to ask empowering questions.  It takes faith to have courage.  It takes faith to believe.  It takes faith to create hope.  It takes faith to be who you are called to be.  It takes faith to feed your purpose.  It takes faith to see your potential.  It takes faith to share love.  It takes faith to not stay stuck in pain.  It takes faith to create a vision.  It takes faith It takes faith to move beyond today.

Will you increase your faith?
#TheSassyVoice #HaveFaith #Faith #LifeIsAJourney 

I would have lost heart...again...

I would have lost heart...when my parents told me I was never welcome back in their home...unless I believed that I could have a better life for myself, one full of love, peace, harmony, joy, and happiness - the abundant life that God has given me, and to walk away after 20 years of abuse wasn't wrong.

I would have lost heart...when I shared how to have gratitude in the moment through painful experiences on a VLOG in November 2016 [something I truly believe in and live every single day], yet it offended one of my examples, though they never listened to the video and simply took the words of someone else that I was "talking about them", got offended and cut me out of their life completely and haven't made any effort to resolve this in the last 2 months [and yes, I have reached out multiple times]...unless I believed that real authentic loving relationships will talk through all conflict, will desire to be kind even when hurt, will work through the pain and restore healing, will be willing to love in the method and manner they wish to be loved, and when they can't or don't respond right - they will still be willing to forgive and try again because this is what God asks of us.

I would have lost heart...when I spent money I shouldn't have spent, bought things I didn't need, put my hope in things instead of relationships because of the emotional pain they caused me, made things a status of success because I was taught this was important, and ended up with $26k in Credit Card debt...unless I believed that I could do the hard work to change and become debt free with discipline and a budget.

I would have lost heart...when a girlfriend didn't agree with my method of dating, felt I was in the wrong relationship, believed I was making bad choices...unless I believed that God would guide me and direct me on how to walk my own path with the input of many individuals, not just the opinion of one person trying to make me live life her way.

I would have lost heart...when I was told by a Girlfriend [who had never met my Mother and only knew her through the things I had shared] that I was just like my Mother...unless I new the truth about myself, believed that I had the power to be different through learning from others, studying relationships, choosing to keep the good things and letting go of the bad, praying for direction, practicing different ways of living, remembering the things I didn't like and choosing to be different.

I would have lost heart...when clients went weeks and months not making payments for services I rendered...unless I learned the lesson that as along as I accepted that behavior and didn't talk through and create new boundaries and stick to the terms in my contract that there was a late fee if they didn't pay in 10 days, I would continue to have to accept being treated this way.

I would have lost heart...when life got messy, ugly things happened, hurtful things were said, chaos unraveled, people walked out of my life, finances got tight, health issues continued, many nights I couldn't sleep, and life consumed my heart and mind.

...unless.

Unless, I looked to Jesus!

Unless I asked Jesus:
- to help me through the dark moments
- to take my anxiety
- to bare my troubles on His shoulders
- to give me grace
- to help me sort through my pain, my hurt, my confusion
- to renew my lack of hope
- to help me see the good in these situations and to grow from it
- to lift my depression
- to resolve my frustration
- to give me clarity and wisdom to know how to fix my mistakes
- to show me how to love deeper, more fully, and openly when that was the last thing that seemed possible in these things...

Yesssssss...because of Jesus...

...I would have despaired and lost heart, unless I had not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord! ~ Psalm 27:13 AMP
#TheSassyVoice #DontQuit #KeepTheFaith #GodsPlan #HaveFaith#Believe

I would have lost heart...

I would have lost heart...when my employer fired me for a blog post on my personal blog August 2010...unless I knew what I had written wasn't wrong or out of place or dishonest, but in reality it was his excuse for letting me go for not lying and covering for him to the partner of the business.

I would have lost heart...when I filed unemployment and the claim was denied and I had to appeal it...unless I believed God had my back and I would win the appeal with additional facts.

I would have lost heart...when a girlfriends husband reached over and put his hand on my upper thigh in the middle of watching a movie with him and his wife when I was over at their place for New Years Eve...unless I believed that God wanted me to work through my fears of men again on a deeper level and to show me that I was strong, that I had to honor my values and integrity and ask him to confess to his wife (not knowing that she had seen him do it) and if he didn't, I would.

I would have lost heart...when a client didn't pay me after doing 5 years of accounting within a 4 month time frame to release the pending IRS lien on their business, forcing me to file a lawsuit to get paid...unless I understood that not everybody keeps their word and not everyone is ethical in how they do business.

I would have lost heart...when I found my boyfriend texting a previous girlfriend "I frequently think of you and your gorgeous butt."...unless I believed God was showing me signs that he wasn't committed to this relationship like I was and these were ways that he was giving me clues that this wasn't the man God had for me to avoid further heartache and emotional pain in my life.

I would have lost heart...when a terminated employee kept client files and ignored all communication from me...unless I believed God was having me go through something that was going to teach me a valuable lesson.

I would have lost heart...when life got messy, ugly things happened, hurtful things were said, chaos unraveled, people walked out of my life, finances got tight, health issues continued, many nights I couldn't sleep, and life consumed my heart and mind.

...unless.

Unless, I believed in God.

Yesssssss...

...I would have despaired and lost heart, unless I had not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord! ~ Psalm 27:13 AMP

#TheSassyVoice #DontQuit #KeepTheFaith #GodsPlan #HaveFaith #Believe

is God silent?

I have had some conversations lately with others that have told me that God is silent. He isn't answering their prayers or giving them direction.

Yet as I think about God and who He is designed to be in a relationship with us, is He silent? When I think about the qualities of a relationship and what it takes to communicate, I wonder if we have misinterpreted God and His ways of communicating? I wonder if we have taken an expectation of how He communicates and made it a criteria of what we think is going to happen in our relationship with Him?

He tells us to: Seek and YOU WILL find. Doesn't that mean answers aren't missing? That they can always be found? That they are always forth coming? Always?

He says to: Ask and it SHALL BE given. Doesn't that mean He wants to hear from you and give back to you? Doesn't that mean He wants you to ask Him questions? Doesn't that mean He gives answers to questions?

He says: Trust, have Faith and Believe. Doesn't that mean you have to trust He is going to answer? To have faith that He is going to answer? To believe He is going to answer?

I wonder if we have labeled Him "unresponsive" when He actually has responded?

I wonder if in reality the silence means He has given you an answer, but because you were looking for a different one or didn't get the answer you wanted, you thought He hadn't responded?

I wonder if you've given God a deadline as to when the answer has to be there and maybe in His limitless time frame, He is creating the right moment for the answer to be dropped, but is sending you clues along the way before the mic drop to continually let you know He loves you and cares about the details in your life, but you are so focused on the BIG question that you aren't seeing the small questions He is answering along the way?

I wonder if in reality you have not asked and thanked Him at the same time, you've only been taking in the relationship?

I wonder if He is nodding His head, listening and working diligently behind the scenes on bringing about the next God Moment for you to see Him, feel Him, and trust him deeper?

I wonder if your distrust, fear, and lack of belief in Him is actually hindering you getting the answer and maybe not that He doesn't want to give you an answer?

I wonder if you have been doing all the talking, kinda monopolizing the conversation, not letting the conversation go back and forth, ebb and flow, give and take, in dialogue?

I wonder if you have been sporadic in your conversation with God?

I wonder if you aren't grateful for the answers He has already given you and you simply just want more?

I wonder if you deleted His email or overlooked His Text Message or were busy doing something else and His Call went to Voicemail?

I wonder if you were just a little more patient and believed the timing would be perfectly on time would help you live today and not wait for His answer?

I believe God is a BIG communicator. I believe God wants lots of communication from you. 

I believe God gives just as much back communication back. I believe it's a two way relationship. I believe God wants to give you want you want. I believe God wants to bless you. I believe God is always loving you, no matter what the situation is.

Please know, I believe there are times in conversations that we have silence. That we just sit and say nothing. That we ponder and mediate on what has already been shared. That we have to take time to contemplate the information and questions we have already put out on the table. That we step back and sometimes have to see the big picture instead of being so focused on the little details. Yet, sometimes we have to be more focused on the little details instead of just the big picture.

So...I wonder if the silence is meant for us to listen more instead of just keep talking?
#ConversationsWithGod #Reflections #LettersFromGod #TheSassyVoice#WhoseVoiceAmIListeningTo #SFT #SeeItFeelItTrustIt #Utopia#GodMoments

poem ~ I say

I say Follow Me
you say I can't see the way.

I say Come to Me
you say I can do this my own way.

I say Trust Me
you say I want to believe you.

I say Believe in Me
you say I don't see you.

I say...
if only you could see things from my view.

I say Follow Me
for I will show you the way.

I say Come to Me
to surrender as it's light and easy.

I say Trust Me
for faith is shown when you see no action.

I say Believe in Me
for I've given you abundant life.

I say...
but I give you the choice today.

~ Written By Misty Gilbert
‪#‎Poems‬ ‪#‎AuthorLife‬ ‪#‎MistyWGilbert‬ #ISay #FollowJesus ‬‪#‎CreateTheLifeThatYouWant‬ ‪#‎LiveIntentionally‬