Category Archives: Christian

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, personal excellence, purpose

Sing at the Break of Dawn


 

Sing at the Break of Dawn. Prosperity is Godliness with contentment, life satisfaction that flows from aligning ourselves with what we value most each day.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

I stood outside this morning before 5 am captivated by a chorus of birds singing, their melody echoing through the silence that stood at the cusp of a new day of life. What incredible faith I thought to myself, these birds are bringing in the new dawn before the sun has even appeared over the horizon, singing in the darkness with full confidence that the sun is about to rise.

Faith exists beyond reason and the 5 senses. It is the experience of believing without seeing so much so that your actions align with the space that your faith has already occupied. Just as the birds sing in the darkness as if it was mid-day, may our song of thanksgiving resonate in this world before we have received that which we have asked for…this kind of faith unleashes our reality and lights up the world.

Explore the following faith scriptures, stop doubting and believe =>

“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. ” Matthew 17:20

“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” Matthew 21:21

” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

“Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:28

“Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2

Sing at the break of dawn.

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, tips for purpose driven life, wellness

Man or God: Whose Approval Do You Seek?


“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men.” Gal. 1:10

Step out of the drug of approval today: your need for recognition from others to know that what you do has value. God delights in you. Don’t expect anything today except to be loved and cherished by God.

Dear God,

 Thank you that I have the ability to remember that I am not what I do or what I have achieved.  Who I am is a constant reality and flows from my identity in you, therefore, UNLESS I CHOOSE to farm out my sense of self worth and value to people, circumstances or situations, I will be free from the roller coaster that exists in the drug of approval.

 If I do what I do to be seen by others then what I do becomes diluted by the drug of approval and my authenticity is compromised.  I choose this week to do what I do because of who I am, not because of how I want to be perceived. 

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

 

 

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose, tips for purpose driven life, wellness

The Power of One


 

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Luke 15:4
Do you play the numbers game? How many likes? Shares? Friends? Clients? Responses? Participants in your program? Lecture? Seminar? Workshop? I have. Many times I have felt the ominous serpent of self-doubt slither in the back door of my interior castle as if my work was compromised or less valuable because of the lack of “numbers.” Jesus gives us an invitation in Luke 15:4 to consider the POWER contained in ONE life that is flipped from darkness into light; from confusion into clarity; lost to being found; death to life.

When I consider that I was one life at 17 years old that was flipped into the expansive experience of Jesus, the one life, one death, one gift of Salvation; which has made all the difference in the person I am committed to being today I realize the Power of ONE. Have you ever considered that if you were the only person left on earth, Jesus would have died for you?

If but for one soul; one kind remark; one moment of listening to understand rather than to be heard; one moment of considering the needs of another person over your own desire to be seen, acknowledged, recognized; one act of forgiveness; one moment of positive connection; one choice to stand for good; one choice to speak the truth in love; one choice to listen to the whisper of God over the screams of the world; one act of kindness; word of encouragement; invitation to grow or prune for growth; one moment of silence and shared grief or rejoicing…what a difference we will make in the One day of life we have been blessed with, never underestimate the power of One life that is refreshed because of One Choice to Make God Recognizable in your life today.

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

 

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose, Stress relief, tips for purpose driven life, wellness

What’s Your Energy Source in Life? Unplug and Recharge

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:4-5

Jesus calls us to come closer each day. He created us with a single source for restoration and strength when we attempt to plug into that which is not HIM we experience energy leaks that produce fears, doubts and worries. Come to me, Jesus says, all of you who are burdened by the demands and distractions in the world and I will give you the true peace, sense of purpose and the internal rest & confidence that you seek. Watch the above video prayerfully and plug into John 15 this week.

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

Christian, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose

Our Points In Heaven


Today was an Ordinary day UNTIL something Extraordinary happened.  It started with a random call from an old neighborhood friend who reached out to me on Facebook.  He had reached out to me the week before and then contacted me by phone today.

He started the conversation, talking about how proud he was of me for my recent educational accomplishment and then started sharing with me something he said he wanted to share with me for years.   Well…that of course that sparked my curiosity and I was all ears.

He started by saying “Thank you for having a profound effect on my lifeâ€.   You know the pause you are to have in public speaking… it went on way too long… I was silent.  I was thinking  to myself that (1) I usually don’t have that effect on men lol and (2)  what on earth is this guy thinking…me having a profound effect on someone!

He went on to say that when he was younger he was very dark… almost pitch black in color.  Because of this he was teased by everyone, even his own race.  He said that one day, I walked across the street and said to him “You have the most beautiful skin and color that I have ever seen!  It is so smooth and silky!† He said from that day on he no longer thought of his dark complexion as being bad and that his entire image of himself changed.

I tell this story to say three things:

  1. You never know what message God uses you to give to someone.
  2. Work on getting those points in heaven by doing good deeds that are of the heart.
  3. Be grateful for the blessing you able to hear about  concerning  your good deeds as some or stored and never revealed to you.

I end in a prayer…

“Thank you God for helping me to continue to send your messages to those in need.  Let me continue to realize that it is you that teaches me how to communicate to others.  Let me always remember that things and messages like these are not of me, but of you, and to always remember to give you heavenly father, the praise and glory!

~Estella

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose, Stress relief, tips for purpose driven life, wellness

How to Keep A Purpose Driven Focus


Before a healing took place Jesus would often inquire about the time and intensity of their condition. Perhaps to remind us all that healing is not restricted by the longevity or intensity of the condition…when God says, “It is finished”.

As I paused for a moment under this magnificent tree this morning I asked, “So who told you when to bloom and when to remain dormant?” God’s divine intelligence woven throughout all of nature speak to this truth:

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

There are no challenges in life only situations that invite us to remember our God given ability to come up with creative solutions…and move mountains.

Take it from the bulb in the dark throughout the winter months. If it ever forgot its natural state of being, to bloom in this world, it would have ceased to emerge out of the darkness into the light.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is ETERNAL.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose, Stress relief, tips for purpose driven life

Facing Your Fear


“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:2

Are you willing to step in the ring with your greatest fear?

Jesus faced  two of our greatest fears: death and rejection.

Fr. Robert Barron brings clarity to this face to face encounter Jesus took on for us: “Remember Jesus Himself said that, “No one can plunder the house of a strong man unless a stronger one comes and ties him up.” The strong man is death itself. No one will conquer death until a stronger one comes and ties him up. Jesus is the very strength of God now tying up the strong man of death.”

I remember being in the competition ring in Tae Kwon Do calming my racing heart, fueled by fear, so that I could remember and access the strength of my training outside of the ring. I trained 4 hours a day 6 days a week for the Colorado State Championship. Spiritual training has greater value than physical, what percentage of our time do we put in on a daily basis to expand our training for the spiritual battles we face?

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose, Stress relief, tips for purpose driven life, wellness

3 Shiny Objects that Create Potholes in Life


 

Do you ever have cravings, lust or boast in life?  Know that the fuel behind these emotional experiences does not flow from your soul’s connection with God but from outside distractions that cause you to forget that you are a spiritual being having a physical experience.

An unbridled desire to satisfy an unfulfilled emotional state of being or compromised self image will often manifest in the following:

 

Cravings: an intense yearning for something…a desire…a feeling that comes along with an unsatisfied state.

Lust: a self-absorbed desire for a certain thing, person or experience.

Boasting: to speak with exaggeration about yourself in a prideful manner.

 

Solution to the above unhealthy antics:

 

When we forget to spend time daily nurturing our relationship with God, along with the things that we will draw unto ourselves at the sunset of this life, we start to wander out into the world to experience quick hits of satisfaction that leave us empty handed and unsatisfied.  This unhealthy cycle causes us to crave more of that which can never fully satisfied: recognition, acknowledgment, status and material things.

 

Increase your experience with God each day by spending time focused on what you value and love most in life…these are the things that are void of the need to define, own, control or possess (exchange of love, watching a sunset, playing, laughing).  Life is created for us to experience and grow in our ability to love and be loved.

 

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”  1 John 2:15-17

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose, Stress relief, tips for purpose driven life, wellness

3 Questions Worth Your Time


 

How does your relationship with Jesus reflect in your words, thoughts, deeds and actions?

In what specific ways will you commit to showing up today that will make the presence of Jesus love recognizable to those around you?

How specifically am I committed to allowing these attributes of Jesus presence within me to shine forth?: (choose three specific character traits of Jesus that you desire to reflect today, for example: I am committed to shine forth love, patient understanding and gratitude) =>

1. _______________________________________

2.________________________________________

3._________________________________________

Tonight before you go to sleep pause and reflect on the ways you allowed Jesus presence within you guide the way you showed up throughout your gift of life.

Because of His Love,

Lauren <><

Bible Study, Christian, Faith, how to, Inspiration, personal excellence, purpose, Stress relief, tips for purpose driven life, wellness

A Prayer at the Break of Dawn


“Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:16-18

A Prayer at the Break of Dawn:
Dear God, thank you for the gift of a new day of life to explore growing in the ways of loving and being loved…You, myself and those around me. Once again I release my grip on my need to know why things happen as they do along with my need to know how things will turn out. You are in control and that is enough for me.

I give you full permission to have your way with me in spite of myself, for I have learned on this short journey of life that as I have surrendered all to you, I am never left empty handed. Continue to release the shadows that distract me from living out the purpose for which I was created: to love and beloved.

Protect me from the need to own, control, possess, analyze, interpret, conclude; from attachments, assumptions, expectations and all sense of entitlement along with the antics of comparison, jealousy and envy… for nothing thrives in a state of war. The only thing I am entitled to know is that you love me completely just as I am and that you will never leave me or forsake me, because of this all things are possible for me.

Grant me a spirit of joy and laughter that I may light up from the inside out and may all those who come into this light feel refreshed and inspired. Use my life and my death for the sake of salvation of souls. Use this gift of teaching you have blessed me with to guide people back to themselves as connected to you, so that they may experience their fullest potential of being on earth.

You have revealed to me through my own dark night of the soul experience that you do your greatest work in the eye of the storm, through this knowledge resurrect within me a courage that far outweighs the momentary distractions of fear, doubt and worry. For you have brought about a greater good in spite of the darkness than had my personal trials never occurred. A glimpse into the mystical experience captured within one of your most masterful creations: the beautiful fragrant rose that emerges in the midst of the thorns. You have me, and I have you…I tremble with eager expectation as to the beauty we will create together as I step into another gift of life today.

What is your prayer?

Because of His Love,

Lauren