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Monday Motivation: Blind Faith…

March 5, 2018by Sophie9 Comments

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me , You’ve never failed and You won’t start now…

Hey loves!

Have you ever gone to summer camp or had to do any kind of team building activity where you had to do a “trust fall”? A trust fall requires you do be blindfolded and for you to fall backwards into the arms of a person who is just expected to catch you…. Umm I don’t know about you, but anytime I have ever tried to participate in a trust fall, I always hesitate and put my hands down to try and catch myself or soften the blow of the floor that’s coming my way (lol) . It’s hard to put all your trust in a person, especially if you can’t see what’s coming…

Thinking about this had me draw a correlation between trust falls and the act of faith. Faith is something that even as a Christian, I sometimes tend to struggle with. As a person with some Type A personality traits (Lol) I always like to be in control. Faith requires us to give up complete control to somebody else. That person is God.

You would think as a Christian, this would be the easiest thing to do. We continually spout out scriptures like, “we walk by faith, not by sight ” and “faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen”. But do we actually mean it? Am I alone in thinking that sometimes I would rather see what’s coming instead of having to blindly trust God?

I don’t think I am and this is a dilemma many Christians face. It has been my prayer since the top of the year to learn to trust God like never before! I decided this year that I would step out in blind faith!

As I was jotting some notes preparing to write this post( side note: I write notes sometimes weeks in advance before I actually write a post, just waiting for the right moment/ inspiration to actually post it on here 🙂 ) I was reminded of the story of Jesus and when He walked on water. After a long day of ministering with the disciples, Jesus went up to the mountainside to pray. When He had finished and it was time for Him to return, Jesus used this as a perfect opportunity to teach the disciples a lesson about faith. So instead of taking a boat back across the lake, or swimming ( as one would naturally do) Jesus stepped out onto ( yes onto) the water and began to walk across the lake! Now I don’t know about you, but as far as I know, walking ON water is impossible and the disciples thought so too! They wondered if they were seeing some type of ghost not realizing that they were watching Jesus! Once He got close enough and they realized It was actually Jesus, Peter, one of the disciples said to Him, “If it is really you Lord, tell me to come out to you. Jesus told him to come, so Peter, with his eyes fixed on Jesus, stepped out of the boat, out on to the water and began to walk across. Peter was well on his way…. until the second he took his eyes off of Jesus! As soon as he did and he began to look around and realize the magnitude of what he was doing, Peter began to sink! Jesus caught him right before he sank and said to him, “Oh you of little faith! Why did you doubt me?”…. (Matthew 14:22-33)

Wow… every single time you read a passage in the bible it hits you with something different each time. I’ve always only looked at that scripture in the context of how it relates to the disciples. I’ve never taken the time to apply it to me. God spoke so clearly to me while re-reading this as a wake up call to me! He’s reminded me to stop doubting Him! To not be like Peter. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the moment I take my eyes of Jesus, is the moment I will sink! But what’s so great about Jesus, is just like He did with Peter, He is right there to catch you right before you drown.

This weekend I was having a conversation with my big bro/ friend. He is in a moment in his life that he has to trust God like never before and really step out on faith. He was sharing a dream with me where at one point in the dream God told him to hold on to His shoulders and that He would bring him to a familiar place.. and in classic God form, He spoke so clearly to me and my friends situation encouraged me to step out in blind faith myself. To stop worrying about the destination and trust the journey! The outcome of your life is already determined.

I’m really leaning on the classic passage of scripture Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) which reads: ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹²In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Faith requires total dependence on God.
Faith requires constant communication with God.
Faith requires total trust in God.
Faith is trusting that God is leading you into your destiny not just any destination.
Faith is understanding that even when things don’t LOOK well, that they ARE well through Him.
Faith is a lifestyle…

I encourage all of you to step out in blind faith and trust that God’s got you!

I love the song Oceans by Hillsong. I think it’s so fitting for this post. My favourite part is the bridge which says,”
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Have a blessed Monday!
xoxo
©justlovethemanyway

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Monday Motivation: The Potter…

November 6, 2017September 8, 2019by Sophie4 Comments

He picks up the clay, feels its gritty texture in His hands,
Slowly He adds water to it and as it begins to soften,
He begins to shape it.
Impecably, He intricately designs each feature ,
Each detail unique to this creation. How marvellous that He took simple clay ,
not beautiful by any means,
…and turned it into a masterpiece…- “The Potter”©Sophia Windett

Hey guys!

Every morning at 3:39 am ( yes exactly this time), my eyes fly open. I have come to terms with the fact that this is the time that God wants me to talk to Him in prayer. So, I do… but after that, sometimes I find it absolutely impossible to fall back to sleep. So what better way to pass time, than to throw on some good old Netflix to lull me back to sleep. As I scrolled through the endless options of shows and movies, I came upon an old classic that I love, “Ghost”.( Ghost is a movie starring the late great Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg. If you haven’t seen it, it’s definitely one you should check out) There is a scene in the movie where Molly, one of the main characters is working on a piece of art with clay and a potters wheel ( cue “Unchained Melody”) all my 80’s babies know this timeless love scene! ( I’ll link it right here) What has always drawn to me to this scene is how detailed and delicate a potter has to be with clay. One false move and the whole thing could fall apart. But if handled with care, it could be some of the most beautiful pieces of art .

In the wee hours of the morning, this had me thinking about the master potter. (God) The bible makes many references to the potter and clay. The one that is most prevalent in my mind is Jeremiah 18. In this chapter the prophet Jeremiah ventures down to the potters house. As he approaches him, he sees the potter working on some clay. The clay became spoiled in his hands causing him to have to go back to the potters wheel and start over. It was then that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and began to draw the analogy between what the potter was doing with the clay in comparison to what God was doing with Judah. To summarize, the Lord is showing Jeremiah that Judah is like clay in his hands, for him to mold… or tear down if He has to.

I find it so easy to draw parallel to my life as it applies to this story. Oftentimes, I conveniently tend to forget that my life is not my own. I am inclined to take things into my own hands and try to “mold” my life as I want it to work out. Now, you can imagine how that has been working out for me….. EPIC FAIL!

When you take things into your own hands you take the place of the potter. The potter is the one who knows the clay intimately. The Potter is the one who holds the design for that specific piece of clay. As you see with the clip I inserted earlier from the movie Ghost, when Molly ( the master potter in this sense) was working alone, the piece was coming along nicely. Now once, Sam ( Patrick Swayze) comes in and tries to help, the whole thing falls apart. Such as with us; when we let God ( the master potter ) do His thing, He is able to piece the vision He had of us, His beautiful delicate masterpiece together. But as we humans tend to do , we are inclined to jump in and “help” thus messing up everything! Which, in turn causes the potter to go back to the drawing wheel and start over. Sometimes He has to tear us down to remould us and make us like he intended.

Life is gonna happen. We are human! We are going to make mistakes. We are going to crumble. But we have comfort in knowing that when we do, the potter is just waiting to put us back together. After all, what creator doesn’t want to see His masterpiece reach It’s full potential ! 🙂

The song, “The Potter’s House” (the Vashawn Mitchell version) is one of my favourite songs. I want to leave the lyrics here so you can read them. Powerful words. They are as follows:

In case you have fallen by the wayside of life
Dreams and visions shattered, you’re all broken inside
You don’t have to stay in the shape that you’re in
The potter wants to put you back together again
Oh, the potter wants to put you back together again

In case your situation has turned upside down
And all that you’ve accomplished, is now on the ground
You don’t have to stay in the shape that you’re in
The potter wants to put you back together again
Oh, the potter wants to put you back together again

You who are broken, stop by the potter’s house
You who need mending, stop by the potter’s house
Give Him the fragments of your broken life
My friend, the potter wants to put you back together again
Oh, the potter wants to put you back together again

You who need mending (if your heart needs mending, come on by) stop by the potter’s house (the potter’s house)
Give Him the fragments of your broken life

There’s joy… in the Potter’s house.
Joy… in the Potter’s house.Peace… in the Potter’s house.
Peace… in the Potter’s house.Love… in the Potter’s house.
Love… in the Potter’s house.

Salvation… in the Potter’s house.
Healing… in the Potter’s house.

Deliverance… in the Potter’s house.
Deliverance… in the Potter’s house.

You’ll find everything you need in the potter’s house
You’ll find everything you need in the potter’s house
You’ll find everything you need in the potter’s house
You’ll find everything you need in the potter’s house

Because the potter wants to put you back together again
Oh, the potter wants to put you back together again

(Lyrics courtesy of AZ Lyrics)

You don’t have to stay in the shape that you’re in… because the potter wants to put you back together again! (My favourite lyric. )

Whatever you are going through, give it back to the potter and let Him fix it for you!

Have a blessed Monday everyone! May this week be full of joy, peace and happiness!
xoxo

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I’m Gonna Trust The Journey… 32!

September 13, 2017by SophieLeave a Comment

Hey y’all!

So it’s that time of year again… my birthday!! I can honestly say, I have never been so happy to see a year end! This was probably the worst year ever. My life this year was like a series of peaks and valleys. As soon as it would peak, something would happen to dip me down deep ( and I mean deep) into a valley! Everything that could possibly go wrong this year… did! Stress on every side! Health problems ( me and my family individually) , heartache problems, career drama ( indirectly) just overall not a good year!

Throughout this year I kept asking God, “WHY ME??!” and then my why’s turned into “God what are you trying to teach me during this test?” In so many ways this year God answered these questions by telling me to “Trust the Journey” . Now guys, this word/ phrase has been following me ALL YEAR! I’d open my bible app and there would be a quote about life’s journey, I would hear it in tv shows, in the midst of a breakdown God would whisper it to me, and a celebrity I follow on Instagram named her daughter Journey…. This year God really wanted me to focus on the journey! ( OK God I hear you)

Though my last year was full of twists and turns, I really had to hold on to God and let Him direct the journey. I had to let go of control and trust Him to not only lead me but to take care of me. I’m not good at not being in control… I guess God had to break me down this year…

There are a few things I’ve learned this year on this journey called life:

Sometimes your journey takes you on unexpected paths. Here’s an example . I was in NYC this past weekend and we were out in the city. I saw this girl with a beautiful pair of distressed denim over the knee boots ( look for them in a style Sunday coming soon) I said to my bestie, ” I need those boots”. Not really thinking more about it, we went about our evening. The next day we were going to the nail salon. We got there too early so we went for a walk down the next street over from the salon. Mind you, it’s a street we would have never gone down if the salon was open . We wandered into a store and was looking around the shoe section ( I had long forgotten about the denim boots) I saw these cute denim “Birkenstocks” and I picked them up and showed my bestie. I said to her” Look at God, I’ve been wanting some shoes like this for a while”. She looked at me crazy! Here I am thinking that she thought the shoes were ugly! But when I caught her gaze and looked over my shoulder, what do you think that I saw??? The distressed denim over the knee boots, I had wanted! Sometime’s life’s unexpected paths can bring you to great things! Trust the journey!

Don’t doubt your journey: Everything happens for a reason. You are exactly where you are supposed to be in this moment. Don’t doubt where God has placed you!

Enjoy the journey: Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the process of the journey , of how we are going to get to the final destination, that we forget to enjoy life along the way. At times this past year, I certainly forgot to enjoy my journey. I’m making a vow not to let that repeat this year!

Finally, know that not everybody who starts the journey with you, is meant to finish the journey with you, Especially as you get older, you will evolve and the people around you will evolve and that’s life . Cherish the memories and be grateful that they were apart of your journey along the way.

This year I was down and I mean really down. But through it all God kept me. He always sent reminders to let me know He was there and that He heard my cries! So, I’m going to do what He has been telling me to do and Trust the Journey! I may not always understand it or even agree with how things are going, but I’m going to trust the process!

Trust seems to be my theme today … lets just make it the theme for the year! So, here’s to 32 years ! Live, Love and TRUST THE JOURNEY!

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
( https://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Pr3.5-6)

I LOVE YOU ALL! I can’t thank you enough for the support!
xoxo
©justlovethemanyway

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Monday Motivation: Expectation…

June 26, 2017June 26, 2017by SophieLeave a Comment

Hey guys!

First and foremost, let me apologize for being so inconsistent these past few months. It’s been a rough few months to say the least; health wise, family wise and heart wise. I’ve just kind of been in a funk and with that funk came a huge case of writers block…. How could I post a “Motivation Monday” when I myself was the least motivated??

However, with this time away from regularly scheduled blogging, I had a lot of time to reflect. I had allowed myself to become a victim to the funk.

17 is my “lucky” ( favourite ) number. So with 2017 looming, I decreed and declared that 2017 was going to be my best year yet…. and then… ( cue dramatic pause) it wasn’t. It has turned out to be one of the most challenging 6 months of my life thus far. This “funk” just gave me a serious case of the blahs and everything I was ( and am) passionate about seemed to take a back burner .

Then one day I heard a song that met me right where I was at: bound to my situation and not expecting anything to change. The song is called “Expectation” by James Fortune and the lyrics are as follows:

I expect double I expect more
I am living In the overflow
I expect double I expect more
I am living In the overflow

Everything that’s been promised
I receive if I believe
(His word will not return void) His word will not return void
What’s been spoken, shall come to pass

(I want everything) Everything that’s been promised
I receive if I believe (I believe if God said it)
His word will not return void
What’s been spoken, (come into pass) shall come to pass

(I expect greater) I expect greater
Pressed down and shaken together
My cup runneth over (No longer living with just enough)
I have more than enough

( Repeat)

In life there are many expectations. As a child you are expected to obey your parents. You are expected to go to school, find a career and become a contributing member of society. You are expected to find a mate, get married and procreate… expectations, expectations, expectations….. But what do you expect of yourself? As Christians, what do we expect from God? What does God expect from us?

In reality the answer to all of those questions is love: Love others, love yourself and most importantly love God. Love conquers all; fear doubt, discouragement and even a case of the blahs and funk! Once I learned to lean on the love of God again, my expectations of my life rose to the highest tier !

The God I serve forces me to believe that He is greater than any situation and that I deserve EVERYTHING that He has promised to me! The lyric in the song that says, “Everything that’s been promised I receive, If I believe” , has now become my motto. I have now changed my outlook from “hope” and “possibility of change” to EXPECTATION 🙂 I’m always comforted by Romans 8:28 which reads; “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

As I listened to the song I was reminded of the story of Jacob when he wrestled with God ( Genesis 32: 22-32) To paraphrase, in verse 26, as Jacob wrestled with God , he tells God that he won’t let go until He blesses him. That’s the outlook I’m choosing to have; I won’t let go until God blesses me!

But to receive that blessing, I to have to put in the work.While I’m expecting God to bless me, He is expecting me to serve Him wholeheartedly in spirit and in truth. ( I will 🙂 )

I believe great things are on the way for me, as a matter of fact I’m expecting it!!! (and as a matter of fact on church on Sunday, the preacher pretty much confirmed it )

I’m excited for what God has in store for me; patiently waiting, actively seeking his direction.

Check out the song “Expectation” down below 🙂

Have a fabulous Monday!!
Stay encouraged and talk to you all soon!
Till next time…

Xoxo

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Monday Motivation: I Will Search For You…

May 8, 2017by SophieLeave a Comment

Hey y’all!

Today was cold guys… like its May and I almost reached for my winter jacket today! However, on the bright side it wasn’t raining where I live; the sky was bright blue and the sun was shining brightly ( just not warmly lol )

I work in early childhood education and outside on the playground today, the kids and I were looking at a birds nest we had been watching evolve for the past few weeks. Last week we watched the baby birds hatch and were even able to see the mother bird in her protective and nurturing element. Today we were able to see the mother bird leave the nest and go out into the grass and search for what we assumed were worms to feed her babies. It was really interesting to watch the mother bird as she searched diligently. She had a task and she was determined not to return to the nest without what she had set out for.

As I watched the mother bird seek and search with all her heart for something to bring back to her babies, I was reminded of how much God does for us. He is always providing for us with the utmost intensity. He is always wanting to give us the best. He sees our needs and will stop at nothing to give us what we need

But at the same time, I saw the mother bird as a reflection of people. The same way the mother bird was seeking vigorously for something to feed her babies , is the same way we should be seeking and longing after a relationship with God. With the same urgency and desire bring something to Him. When seek God in all aspects of our lives earnestly, God in turn will search to fulfill our needs and desires according to His will.

What do I mean by “seek” God? Well, to seek means to :
attempt to find (something).
attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something).
ask for (something) from someone.

To find or obtain something, you first have to look for it. You can’t have a relationship with God without looking for Him! How can you look for Him? Learn all you can about God through his word ( the bible ) and talk to Him through prayer . Spend time with Him. Once you know God, you then can begin to ask Him things and really hear from Him. Seek and ye shall find!

I was reminded of two scriptures today . The first being Jeremiah 29:13 which reads, ” You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” and Matthew 6:33 which reads ” Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.“

This moment also brought a song to mind today which I think sums up how I’m feeling today. The song is called , “I Will Search” by Israel Houghton . Take a listen down below:

How precious how lovely
Are your thoughts oh Lord toward me
How truly amazing
Is the grace that you have shown
Oh majesty I live to see your face

I will search for you
And I will find you
I will find you with all my heart
I will lift my hands to you in worship
And I will worship with all my heart

How gracious relentless
Is the Father’s love toward us
Breathtaking the beauty
And the radiance of you
Oh majesty I live to see your face
And be transformed
Into your image

I will search for you
And I will find you
I will find you with all my heart
I will lift my hands to you in worship
And I will worship with all my heart (x 2)

Oh Oh I will worship you with all my heart
Oh Oh I will worship you with all my heart

That’s it for today folks! May you have the diligence of a mother bird as you seek God today and always!

Blessings
Xoxo

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What 2016 Taught Me…

December 31, 2016December 31, 2016by SophieLeave a Comment

Well folks 2016 is on its way out and 2017 is making its way in, and what a whilwind of a year it’s been. Lots happened to me good and bad…. with the bad seemingly outweighing the good. However, though this year was rough, 2016 taught me a lot of things.

2016 taught me that God truly hears every cry of mine and He always finds a way to send help right in the nick of time!

2016 taught me that God brings peace in the midst of even the most difficult situations and constantly shows me reminders of His grace.

2016 showed me that sometimes people are to be in your life for just a season and God has taught me to how to be okay with that!

2016 has taught me to see the beauty in every moment… even the tough ones.

My desire for 2017 is to live life to its fullest. To live the life God intended for me. To enjoy each moment and to continue to love endlessly!

One thing that 2016 tried to rob from me ( and succeeded several times) was my smile!! I am walking into 2017 with the biggest smile ever! There’s one last song I want to leave you with this year and coincidentally the song is entitled “Smile” by Jonathan Nelson.

Have a marvelous New Years eve ! Be safe and remember to smile!! Bring it on 2017…. I’m ready for ya!

ps: 17 has always been my “lucky” ( blessed) number… just saying 🙂

xoxo

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Monday Motivation : Awesome…

December 12, 2016by SophieLeave a Comment

Hey guys!

What a busy week I have ahead as I am preparing to travel overseas! But I couldn’t let the few moments I have pass without dropping a few lines for you 🙂

A few years back I read a book called “The Book Awesome” which was a quirky little book filled with little anecdotes of things they found particularly awesome about life. With so much doom and gloom happening around us in this crazy world we live in, I thought I’d take my own spin on “Awesome”

***************************

Coming home to a clean house after vacation: Nothing beats coming to a home that has a pine sol fresh scent after travel on an airplane for many hours… AWESOME

The sound of rain on a zinc roof: Being of Caribbean descent , I have fond memories of laying down at my aunty’s house during a rain shower and hearing the pitter patter of rain drops on the rooftop! Some of the best sleeps of my life were during a good old fashioned Jamaican rain shower… AWESOME

The cool side of the pillow: A hot sticky summer night. The pillow is warm… until…. you flip it over. Instant cooling sensation… AWESOME

An ice cold Dr Pepper: Nothing beats an ice cold Dr. Pepper anytime, anywhere… AWESOME

Putting on clothes fresh out of the dryer : When you throw your cozy sweater in dryer right before you leave the house for that fresh bounce smelling warmness… AWESOME

Opening up your wallet and finding unexpected money... AWESOME

Sunday Afternoon Naps: Not only are they essential to life (lol) they are AWESOME

The sound of perfect harmony: I sing. So the sound of three part harmony done well can literally send chills down my spine and tears down my cheeks…AWESOME

A brand new smooth writing pen… AWESOME

An evening spent with your best girlfriends filled with love, laughter and of course wine! AWESOME

A Snow Day… which for me equals a paid day off of work… AWESOME

All these things are awesome along with so much more. But the number one awesome thing to me is that I am part of the family of God. I have a Father who loves me unconditionally... AWESOME. A Father who chose me… AWESOME… A Father despite all my shortcomings still loves me enough to show grace and mercy towards little old undeserving me! Now that’s AWESOME! 🙂

Take a moment to step away from the negative things. When we dwell on the negative, we tend to overlook all the awesome that surrounds us. Find your awesome!

The song I want to leave you with today is “Lord You Are Awesome” by William Murphy. He is truly awesome and I am so grateful to know Him!