Examination of your fruit

Make sure your "fruit" is good fruit. Make sure that the appearance of it isn't just good on the outside yet rotten on the inside. Make sure your fruit that you produce, is good through and through. 

What are examples of "rotten fruit"...gossip, backbiting, evil stare, resentment, lack of forgiveness etc. 

Examples of "good fruit"...Love, kindness, patience, peace etc...

The conditions of our hearts will always tell the tale...even if "good fruit" is exhibited, "bad fruit" never stays hidden for long. The true nature of ones fruit will eventually show up.

Look out or become overextended

Many women have become so accustomed to wearing a cape and being superwoman. 

'If I don't do it then who will?" "They won't know what to do without me." "It won't be done right if I don't take care of it." And many more statements we make out loud or within. 

We've become so accustomed to stress, pain, and tension in our body that we don't even know it exists. As out body is sounding the alarm. 🚨

Along the way we've overextended ourselves. 

Overextended - Impose on (someone) an excessive burden of work or commitments. 

Ladies, please take care of yourself. The world will still turn if you stop...for some time and check on the condition of your spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health. 

You can not and do not have to say yes to every offer of giving your time. On planes there's a reason why they instruct you to put your mask on FIRST in case of an emergency. You can't help anybody else of you're no longer here. SAY NO. I WILL NOT OVEREXTEND MYSELF. 

Protect your heart. Protect your mind. Protect your time and your space. Family first. All else...

Who says sorry first?

 A challenge that I've noticed over the years is, we struggle with whether or not we are to be the first one to take the responsibility to come together after an offense has happened. Let's not fail to recognize that sometimes a person truly doesn't know that they did offend others. They just notice changes in behavior towards them, maybe. If they cared, with pride aside, they'll come directly to you to ask why is there a change. 

If an offense happens to you. Do what you must to keep your heart posture right before the Lord, and clear the air with man, if possible. Also, forgiveness can happen without "them" ever acknowledging wrongdoing and having remorse. It is challenging but it is possible. 

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I have had to ask for forgiveness when I have wronged and haven't done wrong, to maintain peace and bring healing. Even if the relationship was never as it once was. 

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See it for what it is

 Internal examination as was said before, is necessary. Always check the condition of our heart (thoughts). Some things we believe we've gotten over, have been dormant because we haven't had to see/hear from that person since the offence happened. The real test comes, when you do. We can smile, text, speak and even hug but what rises up on the inside will tell the tale.

Physician, heal thyself

 Putting off internal weight of unhealthy and unhealed emotions is a constant need. Offenses come and from that offense, can lead to 1 of many unhealthy emotions that eats away at us. It buries itself in our cells. Causing destructive thinking, outlook, habits of consumption, sickness and much more. Once identified and acknowledged, we must uproot these things. Otherwise it will slowly poison our mind and bodies.

Rebirth

Rebirth: the action of reappearing or starting to flourish or increase after a decline; revival.

Re: Once more; afresh; anew. 

Birth: Bringing forth. Give birth to, give rise to. Beginning. High or Noble birth. 

The scripture below talks about a spiritual rebirth, a salvation, a reconciliation to God through Christ but I also believe that throughout our life we will experience a renewal. A rebirth. Fresh new outlook on life. Like seeing and experiencing life from a fresh set of eyes and hearing from a new set of ears. It's begins at the heart and it continues to flourish from the renewed thoughts of the mind.

I believe this also takes place when a person finds there footing, their purpose, their niche. Something on the inside comes alive. A rekindled flame awakens them in a way they've never felt before. They are now conscious of things they never paid attention to before. Rebirth. 

John 3:5-6, 8 I tell you the truth, if someone does not experience water and Spirit birth, there's no chance he will make it into God's kingdom. Like from like. Whatever is born from flesh is flesh; whatever is born from Spirit is spirit.  

The wind blows all around us a if it has a will of its own; we feel and hear it, but we do not understand where it has come from or where it will end up. 

Life in the Spirit is as if it were the wind of God. 

         

The Inspiration

You may never receive the thank you nor acknowledgement that it was you that helped spark another's idea, that push to complete an assignment, that solution to their problem or that move for great change in their life. 🤷🏽‍♀️ 

A pat on the back and receiving a thank you can be nice. It's even the proper thing to do if the person that was inspired wants to actually give you credit, but that's not really why you do what you do in the first place, is it? 

Sharing with others what you've been gifted with because you love. It's what you were born to do. It's a desire to see people be better and do better. Desire to build something great. Desire to create structure and a living legacy for your family.  

Keep inspiring others. Don't forget about motivation for yourself. Stay at your highest level and keep doing what you do. Oh and know when to take breaks and replenish your vessel. 💝