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

patience pays off

Sometimes we have to have extended patience. Like mega doses!!! Even when we think we have given something enough time to be resolved, we have to give it more, lots more. Sometimes we have to simply not give up and just keep being kind and fighting for something we know we deserve. Long after we want to quit. Long after we are extremely done with the whole deal. Sometimes we have to try a different route when the previous one isn't working.

You may or may not remember a post I did in August 2016 sharing with you the hassles I had been having with the Honda Dealership here in Burleson on my 2013 Honda Civic purchased March 2013, [yes, rapidly approaching 4 Years], over Prepaid Maintenance issues. The deal is simple: I paid for Prepaid Maintenance when I bought the car that was to last for 6 Years / 80k. Yet, every single time I went in, without fail, I was charged for Oil Changes, Filters, balance and rotation of tires, and stuff that I should not have been paying for! I would explain that I didn't owe this. I was told they didn't see this in the system. I would show them the "alert note" they put in their database that they had given me a copy of from a previous visit when they told me this would fix it. I was told that this department didn't have access to it or the service adviser forgot to check that or some other lame excuse. I would bring my 2013 Honda Civic File with me each and every appointment because I knew I was going to have to argue and prove my point. This is the only thing I could do to ensure that I would walk out with not owing a thing, after arguing about it, as long as I had my paperwork with me. If I forgot the paperwork, then I had to pay, then I had to submit paperwork to get a refund, which took weeks. There were times they said this or that wasn't covered and I would have to pay when I shouldn't, simply because I had argued all I could with the fine print and it was time to just walk away.

Believe me. This was exhausting. I was frustrated. I knew I could go to another Honda Dealership, because the Prepaid Maintenance goes to any Honda Dealership, but until my Prepaid Maintenance plan was loaded in the Honda Dealership system correctly, going somewhere else would not solve the problem.

I tried asking who I could talk to and attempt to go up the chain of command, not just talk to each and every service adviser each visit. I would attempt to ask who could help resolve this issue once and for all so that the next time I came I didn't have to fight and argue and bring my folder with all the details on my car with me, to prove I didn't owe anything. I talked to the gal that always texts me after each and every session, wanting to know if I had received excellent service and if there was anything else she could do for me, always asking and reminding me that if I got a survey in the mail that they would like it if I would please give them 5 stars. I let her know I wanted a survey and I hoped I got one because it would not be 5 stars and I would be glad to share. She then would ask details and I sent them along with screen shots and information. She always promised to get my concern and issue to the right department and that she would have someone call me. I never got emails or calls to follow up on this.

I finally reached my limit last August and I mailed 6 letters out to various individuals at the dealership, including my the guy who sold me the car who has become a great friend of mine, and to Honda Corporate Offices. I left negative reviews on every site online I could along with posting comments on social media and tagging their dealership and Honda in the posts. This got me call backs and some action, even from corporate, but not resolution.

I emailed the General Manager directly in August and he said he never got my letter. I scanned it in and sent it over to him along with copies of all the text messages between me and their Text Media Gal. I offered to do Customer Service Training for free to help them and their team, sighting other reasons things are amiss. I asked for compensation beyond just fixing the issue because it had gone on so long! I asked if we could have a meeting.

I am here to tell you that I got ALL that today. After 2.5 hours of waiting, and 1 hour of talking, we have come to an agreement and they have agreed my request for Prepaid Maintenance for life on my car is fair, on top of refunds for what I paid for that I should not have paid at the time of service. They admitted that they dropped the ball and they did not follow through, even after their last phone conversation with me in August when they told me that they would get back with me with a resolution and have this fixed.

Would you have fought 3 Years and 10 Months on something like this? Would you have kept trying to work it out despite the hassles and fighting and frustration?

Yes, sometimes my determination annoys people, but sometimes you have to just stay at it!

In the end, they thanked me for being kind, honest, patient, being reasonable, fighting fair and giving them a chance. The general manager gave me a big bear hug in the end. Some people might feel to fight like this is wrong, some people might have gotten ugly and made a scene, some people might have just taken their business elsewhere and cut their losses. I get it. The cost to me was too great.
#Patience #LifeIsAFight #StayFocused #HondaCivic #CustomerServiceFail#BeDifferent

will you give 2017 a clean slate?

I am choosing to walk into 2017 in simplicity, with peace, a clear heart and mind:

If you owe me for something, don't worry about repaying it, it is a Gift to You. I want to let you have it and keep it. No strings attached. And yes, you are welcome! Walk in Freedom.

If you wronged me, I have accepted it and am letting it do it's perfect work in me. God has used it as a lesson for me. I may not have learned it all, but it's part of my journey and He will make it all good. I trust that I will understand each lesson as I am supposed to.

If you're angry with me, you've won. But I'm truly sorry you are keeping this anger from creating a deeper connection between us.

If your harboring any type of ill feelings against me, you've succeeded at keeping them close in your heart and mind by not sharing it with me to make amends. I'd love for you to get this off your chest so we can begin anew.

If we aren't speaking and you don't want to hear from me, know this is your choice. But I will still love you.

If you feel I wronged you, please accept my "I am so very sorry." ... "I apologize." ... "I Love You." I want to restore and fix it, if you will let me listen and hear your side, I want to. It's never my heart to leave things in a bad shape or to hurt you. I most definitely can't fix something you do not give me a chance to resolve. Nor can I force you to see my side or share my perspective. But I would pray that you'd at least be willing to at minimum.

No mater what, life is way too freaking short for all the pent up feelings of holding of grudges, guilt, shame, anger, hurt, and staying in bondage!

I want more for you!!! I truly do love you and I want you to settle for MORE in your journey...I hope that we can do it together by starting 2017 with more peace, love and freedom!!!

Will you join me in spreading more love, creating a positive view, and freeing each other with a clean slate???

♡ ❤ ♡ 
#TheSassyVoice #2017Goals #ChooseLove #NewBeginnings#ADifferentPerspective

do you believe your comments don't matter?

I was at a function this past week and having a conversation with some individuals regarding my Social Media Break between Christmas and New Years and the reasons behind this.  As the group of us were discussing what people share on Facebook, how some use it to create relationships, why some people love Facebook, we particularly spent time talking about the objective of commenting or not commenting, one of the individuals said:  "I refuse to comment any more because in the end, my opinion doesn't matter and they do not want to hear what I have to say."

To be honest, I found this mental framework about relationships and communication disheartening.  I personally believe that comments online and offline do matter.  Even if you do not "feel" that the person wants to hear what you have to say.  Not just because Words of Affirmation is one of The Five Love Languages, but also because we are instructed to Encourage One Another and Build Each Other Up. [quote from Ephesians 5:11]  

Dialogue is how we create connection.  Asking questions is how we get to know someone.  Sharing our thoughts is how we get other perspectives.  Sharing ideas is how we can brainstorm. Sharing encouragement in word format allows someone to hear things that their heart needs.  Sharing a comment lets the other person know we heard them.

If I do not comment, I am not giving to the relationship.  If I do not comment, I am not allowing other perspectives to be shared.  If I do not comment, I am not adding ideas to someones world to be brainstormed about.  If I do not comment, I can't encourage someone.  If I do not comment, I can't let the other person know I heard them.

Yes, sometimes we will comment and the things we say will come out the wrong way, intentionally or unintentionally.  Our perspective won't be understood or appreciated.  Our ideas won't be received or accepted.  Our encouragement won't be seen as such.  And yes, we indeed may offend someone, deeply offend. 

Should I let the possibility of not feeding the relationship the way I want to in my heart stop me from communication?  Should I let the chance that everything goes the wrong direction from my communication stop me from commenting?

Not if I am focused on trying to create a connection, I won't let it.

This isn't heaven and even God isn't expecting me to be perfect.  I will say something that creates a ripple effect of both good and bad feelings. This is life.  This is part of the process of learning, growing and understanding each other.

Today I want to ask:  What if we did more to comment instead of just scroll through and like here and there on Facebook?  What if we did more to create a connection and relationship?  What if we just didn't create news or noise but actually had dialogue?  What if we dropped the fear on what people will think of our comments?  What if we truly engaged and created the relationships we all desire?

I want to be intentional in connecting.  I want to comment as often as I can.  I want my relationships to matter.  And because of that, I believe my comments matter.
#RelationshipsMatter #ThePowerOfChoice #BeDifferent #ADifferentPerspective

who do you want to be?

Someone says: She is a bitch.
The truth is: She is acting like a bitch, but that isn't her.
The double truth is: We ALL can act that way.
There isn't one of us that doesn't know how to be ugly, to be rude, to snap back. To say hateful, hurtful, demeaning things. There isn't one of us that can't dig in and find someones sore spot, take a knife and poke in harder. There isn't one of us that can't find a way to retaliate and add fuel to a burning fire and make it rage out of control. There isn't one of us that doesn't know how to give the silent treatment, turn a cold shoulder, or exclude someone,maybe even intentionally as payback.
But...it takes looking at those feelings, that each of us experience, when they come up and asking:
What is hurting deep inside of me that wants to be acting this way? Why am I shutting out love? What am I ignoring that needs attention? What has triggered me to feel this way? Do I really want to add to and endure more pain then what they've already experienced in this moment? What can I embrace and accept and let go?
Once you know the source of your pain, you can ask other thought provoking questions that will open up your heart:
Is this who I truly want to be in this moment? Or am I being something that isn't in line with the vision I have for myself?
Is this how I would want to be treated? Or is this just reacting to the way I have been treated?
Is this going to bring me life that creates further growth and expansion? Or is this going to bring me dead end results that creates additional hurt and destruction?
Is this helping me have love and peace? Or is this creating more negative energy, even if it has a cover of initial relief?
You get what you focus on. The energy that you put out is what comes back to you. So in the moment of choice...choose well. Choose life. Choose love.
#CreateTheLifeYouWant #LiveIntentionally #BeThePersonYouWantToBe #BeDifferent #ChooseLove

what if we LOVED each other more?

What if we LOVED each other more?  Really loved each other.

What if we didn't just say: I LOVE YOU as a Facebook comment, but actually showed in actions we loved someone?  

What if we took the time, to look someone in the eyes today and tell them what they meant to us?  How they contributed to or shaped our lives?  

What if when we got hurt, deeply hurt, by a comment or action or situation, we let that person know that we loved them and valued the relationship and that we were hurt instead of just walking away, unfriending someone, shutting them out, and by our actions proving to them that the relationship really didn't matter and we didn't and wouldn't love them?

What if we took the time today, to express all the strengths this person had and how they have blessed our life?  Instead of focusing on all the ways they could be a better person and had failed us or let us down?  What if we built the relationship up through the positives?

What if we took the time to notice the small things someone did to make our day run more smoothly?  To be a helper or assistant in a project we have going on?  What if we thanked them for this and expressed the positive impact and our appreciation of it instead of just casually saying Thank YOU?

What if when we felt at odds with someone, or disagreed with someone, or they were rubbing us the freaking wrong way and getting on our freaking nerves, or we simply just didn't like what they were doing, we choose to not shove them away, not build up walls, not act like everything was just fine, but made a conscious effort to actually bring them closer to us and love them through it?  What if we did the opposite of what we wanted to do and created a deeper connection?

What if we took the time to reflect on what love really looks like?  

What if we did more to show each other that we love?

What if we let love guide our every action?
#LoveOnPurpose #ChooseLove #BeLoving #RelationshipsMatter

a 7 Day Social Media Break

I took a 7 Day Social Media Break between Christmas Day and New Years. I debated about doing just 5 days, 7 days, 8 days or even extending it to a full 10 days. In the end, I went with 7 days.
I have been asked several questions around this, so I thought I would share them with you in case you have had them and just didn't have guts to ask them, along with my answers. It might help you to look at your own life and think about how you want to live.
Question #1: Why didn't you just temporarily delete your Facebook Account instead of leave it up during this 7 day escape?
Answer #1: My goal in every aspect of my life is to think about my actions and who I want to be. In my opinion, suspending or temporarily deleting my Facebook Account only is an action of drama and attention getting. It makes people panic that something happened to you. It makes people concerned that they can't get a hold of you if Facebook is their primary forms of connecting and messaging. It makes people assume things are wrong, bad, ugly. To avoid this, I simply did a post about what I was going to do and those that stay connected would see it. If someone was missing me, or didn't see the post, this would give them a chance to go to my wall to see the last post I made before this break and see why I was not on. And it would answer their questions.
Question #2: What made you decide to do this Social Media Break?
Answer #2: I felt a need to have some intense quiet time. To do some internal reflections and seek clarity on some answers I want. I look at my mind and body as a computer that is hard wired and deeply connected to many things. I live it in high gear a lot of the time, and sometimes it just needs a reboot, a control alt delete move that resets and unplugs everything. Literally. I felt that I needed to take action on a method to enforce that. I felt a longing for quiet and to step away from everything. Completely. I wanted to take a key lesson that impacted my life from the #MinimalismFilm where one of the people interviewed said: Just Stop. Stop. I took this advice and applied it to another area of my life.
Question #3: Is this the first time you have ever done a Social Media Break?
Answer #3: Yes and No. The only times I have been away from Social Media was when I went on my Singles Cruise November 2014 for 5 days. I have gone on Vacations since where I didn't check my Instagram or Facebook News Feed, but still posted what I was doing. This was different because I wasn't posting (other than the business pages I manage each day and have to post to and sending Facebook Birthday wishes to each person, I never checked my Facebook Feed). This was different because it was a choice to be intentional about not being on Social Media. So in many ways, yes this was my first time of doing something like this. But I can promise you it will be something I do again.
Question #4: What did stopping Social Media do for you?
Answer #4: It allowed me to focus on being quiet, spending more time writing Letters to God each day, praying, meditating, spending time thinking, writing out ideas and plans for 2017, and sleeping extra. It made me spend time thinking about some questions, think more about the very thing I ask of you: How do you I want to create my life? Am I living intentionally? What do I want from my moments on Social Media? Am I getting out of it what I am putting into it?
Question #5: How did you have the discipline to take a Social Media Break when you clearly love it?
Answer #5: It is like other things in life. When I make a commitment to myself, I go all in. I don't do anything halfheartedly. I want to honor this break and keep my word. I want to follow through at it at 100%. I didn't want to feel like I was cheating, because if I did, the only person it would hurt was myself.
Question #6: How did you ensure that you didn't on Social Media?
Answer #6: I removed the Folder I have on my home screen on my Android phone that has all Social Media Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, SnapChat, Periscope, etc. I moved it to another screen on my phone. In fact, I removed all apps from my home screen. This forced me to not see any alerts or details at all when I picked up my phone which helped me to stay committed to my break from all these platforms. I also left my phone on silent the entire week. I didn't want to feel the need to respond or connect with anyone until it was something that I felt I wanted to do.
Question #7: What are your nuggets from this Social Media Break?
Answer #7: I have three of them.
7a: The world will go on without you. When I make this following statement, it is not for sympathy or attention or to make you feel any quilt, it is simply is the facts. Only 2 people reached out to let me know they missed me. Do I believe that only 2 people missed me? Not at all. I have too much engagement on here for me to believe that, but at nearly 2000 Facebook Friends, this made me realize that the bulk of us are not being intentional in our relationships, friendships and connections, on or off line. I get it and I think I understand why. But I want to be different. And when I say I want to be different, it is more then just a statement about what I want but more of a commitment to how I will live. I do not just want to be putting more noise out there. I want to make sure that I am creating the relationships, friendships and connections on all levels that matter to me. It allowed me to reflect on what these would look like, what key elements are needed, how I can help them to increase my growth, and what and how I will make them different in this New Year.
7b: There are no words to what unplugging completely and doing a reset does for you. Removing all noise. All distraction. All busyness. All steady streams of connections. I highly recommend it!
7c: The reality is that a reset forces you to reassess what your priorities are and how you will achieve them, even when you feel you are intentional about doing this every day. It made me focus on how I need to live to take care of me, first. It made me remember that life is short, really short, and time flies but it is up to me to make time stand still. The quality of our life comes from our simply daily choices.
#LifeLessons #ADifferentPerspective #ThePowerOfChoice #TheReasonBehindTheWhy #SocialMediaBreak #CreateTheLifeYouWant #LiveIntentionally

Prayer 01.02.2017

Dear Lord,

As we begin this #NewYear may we deeply remember that we have brand new mercies each day. New opportunities. New paths. Our slate gets wiped completely clean. We don't have to hold onto guilt, shame, regret or fear. We can move forward with increased faith, boldness and bravery. You are with us!!! We can walk in new outlooks. New routines. New chapters.

I ask that you help keep our focus to be intentional in the way we live our lives, the people whom we connect with and how we create relationships. That we remember each and every day is a gift and what we do with it when we open it is our choice. You give us a choice in how we live our lives and our results are directly related to how connected we are to you, how we live with courage and hope, how resilient we can stay to the daily fight.

May we focus on choosing to "Settle for More" [read Megyn Kelly's book] and living the abundant life you have given each of us. May we not loose heart in any experience we are facing in life. May we not be defeated by the challenges and struggles, but see them as opportunities to grow and be overcomers.

As each of us pick out a word for 2017 to be our theme, or set new goals to achieve in 2017, or ways we want to transform our lives for 2017, may we do so with a heart that seeks you first in everything, stopping in the moments when we feel overwhelmed to just take a breath and ask you for help, to take a moment and refocus on the vision we have for our lives that comes from you, to ask you for wisdom, guidance and strength, to renew our purpose and passion for life. May we be relentless in this.

A Daughter of The One True King Embracing the New Year, Misty Gilbert
#TheSassyVoice #Pray #PrayerChangesLives #PrayForOneAnother#PrayerWarriors

20 TIPS for a POSITIVE NEW YEAR by Jon Gordon

20 TIPS FOR A POSITIVE NEW YEAR
By Jon Gordon

Updated for 2017

1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible.

2. Take a daily "Thank You Walk." It will create a fertile mind ready for success.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less foods manufactured in plants.

4. Talk to yourself instead of listen to yourself. Instead of listening to your complaints, fears and doubts, talk to yourself and feed your mind with words of truth and encouragement.

5. Post a sign that says "No Energy Vampires Allowed." Gandhi said, "I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet."

6. Be a great team member. When you help your team improve, you improve.

7. Don't chase success. Decide to make a difference and build meaningful relationships and success will find you.

8. Get more sleep. You can't replace sleep with a double latte.

9. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.

10. You don’t have to be great to serve but you have to serve to be great. Look for opportunities to Love, Serve and Care.

11. Live your purpose. Remember why you do what you do. We don't get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it.

12. There's no such thing as an overnight success. Anything worthwhile takes time to build.

13. Trust that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.

14. Implement the No Complaining Rule. If you are complaining, you're not leading.

15. Read more books than you did in 2016. I happen to know of a few good ones. : )

16. Don't seek happiness. Instead live with love, passion and purpose and happiness will find you.

17. Focus on "Get to" vs "Have to." Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.

18. The next time you "fail" remember that it’s not meant to define you. It’s meant to refine you.

19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.

20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

the meaning behind the 12 Days of Christmas song

Did you know this?  I didn't and found the information interesting as to the development of this song.

The Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus Christ.

The Two Turtle Doves are the Old and New Testaments.

The Three French Hens stand for Faith, Hope and Love.

The Four Calling Birds are the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The Five Golden Rings recalled the Torah (or the Law), the first five books of the Old Testament.

The Six Geese a Laying stand for the Six Days of Creation.

The Seven Swans a-swimming represent the seven fold gifts of the Holy Spirit...Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

The Eight Maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes.

The Nine Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit...Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The Ten Lords a-leaping are the ten commandments.

The Eleven Pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.

The Twelve Drummers drumming symbolizes the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Merry Christmas!

12 reasons I get to Celebrate Christmas

12 reasons I am blessed as I celebrate my 3rd Christmas:

1. I get to learn more about Jesus each year as I am willing to replace all the lies I was told as to why Christmas was wrong, why Jesus didn't want me celebrating his birth, and uncover the truth about the meaning of Jesus birth and life for me with new perspectives.

2. I get to enjoy songs I have never heard before or know the lyrics to, that share the message of Jesus through my Meredith Andrews Pandora station of Holiday Music!

3. I get to celebrate friendships in a new way with events and parties that are focused on connection and love!

4. I get to look someone in the eyes and say Merry Christmas and not feel condemned, shamed or that I am wrong to do so.

5. I get to share my story with others who can't imagine what it is like to be raised without Christmas or who can't understand why anyone would think this is wrong.

6. I get to have unique opportunities on how I spend Christmas Day since I do not have my immediate family in my life and my Aunts and Uncles and Cousins I am connected to (the ones that want me in their life), do not live in Texas. So though I am "alone", I get to do things others wouldn't be able to do and get to see first hand how others celebrate this season and I get to do it with them!

7. I get to receive Christmas Cards with joy and pin them up on a wall in my living room and think about the friends who took the time to send me a message, and not just throw them in the recycle bin as soon as I got them because it was ungodly stuff to have in my house.

8. I get to be intentional in my celebration of Christmas and create my own traditions!

9. I get to wrap beautiful gifts and shower others with a token of my love!

10. I get to be reminded more frequently and in new ways just how much Jesus Loves Me!

11. I get to share the light Jesus has given me because of his birth and what His life has done for me in a different way!

12. I get to reflect even more on what love is. What Jesus wants from me. And how I can live that more prevalent in my every day life!

#2016Christmas #LoveMyJesus #CelebrateLife #Blessings #IAmBlessed#ChooseLove

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

the expectations vs no expectations rule

Misty, if you just didn't have expectations you wouldn't get hurt. You wouldn't get let down. You would be able to flow with life easier and be able to accept what happens. You would understand things differently.

Maybe you've been told this. Maybe you think this. Maybe you feel that the whole root issue is people have expectations and they shouldn't. And that life would be what it is supposed to be if you had zero expectations.

As usual, I agree and disagree.

When I come to a 4 way stop on the road, I expect you are going to stop. I do not assume you aren't. I assume you are.

When I put money in the bank, I expect it is going to go into my bank account, not yours.

When I order an alcoholic beverage, I expect you are certified and know how much of what to put in the drink to make it flavorful and delicious and that you are paying attention when you create this.

When I kiss you, I expect you are going to kiss me back.

When I buy a book, I expect when I open it up to find printed words on a page.

When I turn the light switch on to illuminate the room, I expect that it is going to work and help me to see.

When I put the key in the ignition of my car, I expect it to turn on when I create the force and energy to rotate it into motion.

When I mail a package at the post office, I expect that they are going to ship it and the receiver will get it.

When I tell you that I am going to do something, I expect myself to follow through on this commitment.

When I throw something up into the air, I expect it will come back down.

So...should we have expectations or no expectations?

I think that it goes back to one of my core beliefs: There is a time and place for everything and what works or will be appropriate at one point in time, might not work or be appropriate at another.

There is a time when we should have expectations and a time when we shouldn't.

There is a time when expectations help us to receive the results we want and there is a time when having expectations hinders us from getting the results we want.

There is a time when expectations will create connection and a time when expectations will result in a wedge and disconnection between people.

There is a time when expectations will show you what needs to happen and there is a time when expectations will tear down or hinder what you are trying to make happen.

There is a time when expectations will create energy and momentum and there are times when expectations will deplete us and cause things to come to a standstill.

Making hard and fast rules that you can't have any expectations to create the life you want, is putting a focus on creating a rule that may not always work and thus create frustration in your life that could be avoided.

What would happen if you realized there are times you need to have expectations and times you shouldn't? What would happen if you were open to having some expectations in your life and realize that sometimes you can't? What would happen if you saw the benefit of expectations and the benefit of not having any expectations?
#TheSassyVoice #TwoSidesToEverything #ADifferentPerspective#Reflections #Expectations

yes, rejection hurts...but choose love

When I attended the Growth Summit Conference in September 2016 in San Jose, one of the things that Brendon Burchard - Live. Love. Matter. said is that we have all faced rejection. Some of us more then others. He went on to share that studies show that most people have been rejected by one or two people, usually though most have been by a few people, like a handful that could be counted on one hand. He said the studies show that the most was generally an average of 7.

Brendon then asked each of us: With 7 Billion people in the world, will you let 7 people stop you from pursuing your life? You dreams? Your vision? Your goals? Your purpose given to you by God? Will you let 7 people keep you from having love, joy, peace, happiness, gratitude, courage and hope in your life?

I wish I could say that my "list" was only 7 people of close people connected to me in my life. I wish I could say that I haven't experienced rejection, so many times, by people that say they love me and will always love me no matter what. By people who say that I was their only close friend and they were so thankful for my part in their life. By people who were the executor of my will but resigned and asked me to never contact them again. By people who were signers on my bank accounts. By people who I did volunteer work work with. By people I donated to their charity organizations to make a greater impact in the world. By people who brought me into this world. By people who were blood family. By people who wanted to be stand in family.

Like me, you may have people that remove themselves from being the a part of your life because they don't agree with how you live your life or won't accept that you wish to transform your framework and remove all negativity and replace it with positivity. You will have people who say they believe in love and being loving in all ways and through all things, but when it comes down to a direct application in a relationship between you and them, they won't be able to love. They won't love you for you. They may expect you to be someone you are not and try to mold you into the friend they want you to be. They may say that they will be there forever through all circumstances and situations, but when the tough shit happens, they will back away, walk out, leave you or give you the silent treatment. They may actually do more and attack you, slap you in the face, stab you in the back, stomp all over you, do everything to take you completely out. They may tear down everything you thought you had in your connection and the connection you have with others. They may choose to get offended over something you said that was from your own beliefs, perceptions, and feelings. They may not accept: I am sorry, I still love you, I still believe in you, I still want to work this out, I believe in healing, love and grace. They may prefer to hold onto the grudge and not forgive or give grace. They may be people who take someone else's word for what you said or did, unwilling to find out the facts or the truth directly from you, or at minimum ask questions to put pieces together. They may not be willing to discuss how it hurt you or how it hurt them. They may not ever try to see it from your perspective. They may never talk it out, resolve the conflict and just shut you out.

Yes, there are people who will come into your life and say they love you but when life gets hard, they don't, they won't, they can't. You will have people who act like love matters, but when they get to choose love, they ignore the calling. These are the facts. And yes, rejection hurts deeply, very deep. But what will you focus on? All those who have rejected you? Or the ones that need you, want you, and appreciate you? All those that don't walk the walk but talk the talk? Or find the ones that do both? All those that won't love? Or the ones that do?

These situations are similar to the Pharisees in the Bible. They said one thing but their actions said something different. We all get to choose whether we will be a Pharisee or we will be a Jesus Follower.

Misunderstandings happen. We do or say things that offend people. We hurt others. We aren't always kind. We aren't always patient. We don't always see another's perspective. We sometimes feel we can't forgive and hold a grudge. We sometimes feel that working things out isn't an option and walking away is easier. But we still always have a choice to love and repair a relationship.

The truth is: Love is loud. Love is action. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't rejection. Love isn't hurtful. Love continues through the painful things that happens and seeks to restore. Love is hope. Love will never end. Love communicates. Love doesn't defend with creating walls disguised as boundaries. Love heals all things.

Will you choose to love on purpose today? Will you create a connection? Will you show love in one small way? Will you live out your life by both walking and talking about love?
#LoveOnPurpose #ChooseLove #HaveLove #LoveOneAnother#LifeLessons #RejectionHurts