I have just two words of wisdom for today:
Dream Big
Don’t be afraid to chase after those God honoring and inspired dreams.
Now that’s what I call living on pitch!
Tag: Encouragement
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A Plant Based Prayer
May the Lord give us wisdom to remain planted in the Word of God., May we be like trees that are planted by the rivers of water., May we bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. May your plant based diet of spiritual food help you grow and remain healthy in God’s grace.
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How To Go Up in 2020
I love how the word goal starts with go! May the Lord give us wisdom today to pursue our dreams and desires!
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Study Habits
Do you have good study habits? Do you know where you get them from? Sometimes learning from other people requires spending time with them and watching how they act and react. I’ve learned a lot from watching my parents do different things. I’ve been in their classroom a long time. I discovered learning and developing good bible study habits requires spending time in the Bible. I’m learning more to watch how I act and react as I spend time in God’s word. Watch and learn, now that’s what I call Living on Pitch.
It’s the beginning of a new year, wait it’s a whole new decade has begun and most of us are focusing on making some sort of lifestyle change. This is the time where we tend to focus more on our health, wealth, mental, and spiritual well being. I want to tell you that giving up is not an option because of what the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. I love this passage and it is one of my favorites. Here are a couple of reasons why you can’t give up no matter what you are going through.
1. Your inside is becoming better than your outside. Internally God is at work. That peace you have in the midst of a storm, That’s God. That unexplainable sense of calm, that’s God. That choice to let it go rather than argue and make a big deal out of nothing, that’s God at work in you. God intentionally works on us from the inside out. He is gIving you strength, courage, hope, faith, love, peace and wisdom to make it through every day.
2. Your ability to see matters. How you look at your situation matters. You may not be able to see things clearly or right away but clarity comes by focusing on God and eternity. Maybe your future is looking brighter because you had that financial setback, that car problem or lost a job. You may lose a few material things on earth to win the eternal rewards waiting for you in heaven. Don’t lose sight of knowing that nothing on earth compares to having eternal life in Christ. You are victorious, and you win when you see how God prepares for you to be with Him forever.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:16-18&version=ESV
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Music To My Ears
Throughout the book of Psalms there are many references to singing, dancing and shouting. In chapter 33 there are several commands listed to shout for joy, give thanks to the Lord, make melody, play skillfully and sing. This passage reminds me that God is the Creator, the designer and maker of all things including music. God’s love commands us not only to hope in Him but also to express that hope in a way that others can see and hear. It’s audible, loud and expressive. It’s good to know the heavens and earth also acknowledge the steadfast love of God. Waters and seas follow His commands and the breath of God is so powerful it causes all the earth to fear Him. God is not an out of sight, out of mind kind of God. There is no need to wonder about tracking His location. To put focus on a position is pointless. To the readers of this Psalm all that really matters is knowing God sees us, hears us, delivers and keeps us. This passage clearly tells us He looks down from heaven, He looks out and observes our deeds. We can hope in God and openly express it all because of God’s steadfast love. That is good news and what I call music to my ears.
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It’s Gettin Heated
Sometimes my coworker friends and I live on the edge at work. When things aren’t right we may get to snapping back at each other, honking the car horn at folks during our lunch ride to our favorite restaurant or negatively putting in our 2 cents on a hot topic subject of management, changes or policy. Sometime it feels good enough just to get it off our chest and tell the person who upset us exactly how we feel. Other times it doesn’t feel that good. There’s nothing wrong with being direct and honest with others but I have learned two words for when we are easily offended and take things to personally. Those words are simply this: SLOW DOWN. In order to live on pitch we must not be so quick to take offense. It takes practice, but my friends and I are learning and pushing each other by asking the question out loud who or what are we attacking? When we slow down we are able to ask more important questions like how can we react without attacking? We can learn to slow down by not pretending or defending with harsh words, eye rolls and side eyes. A gentle reminder goes a long way. I thank God for those friends and co workers who help me strive to live on pitch. Work life can knock us off our feet and catch us off guard but God is our Helper. What are some warning signs that show up when you’re offended by others?
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How To Make An Exit
Do you know how to make an exit? We’ve heard of making an entrance but I am curious to know if you know how to properly make an exit. How you leave says a lot about who you are and what you value. On the airplane there is a row called the exit row. You have a little more leg room in that row but you also have more responsibility that comes with that seat. Some people make quick exits and other s take a while to leave. Do you know how to exit a conversation loaded with gossip? Do you know how to exit a conversation filled with negativity? Do you know how to exit a restaurant serving unhealthy food when you’re watching what you eat? Here are two ways to make an exit.
- Practice. Like making an entrance you have to prepare for it. You must do it. Get up and go. Shut up and leave. Walk away silently or loudly.
- Pray. You have to pray about the decision you are making. Ask yourself what do I value most? What does God say about this situation?
Sometimes you have to say these words to yourself, I’m not staying here so you can move on. How do you get unstuck? You start verbally saying I’m not staying here. I’m not doing the same thing over and over. I’m not going to continue down the road of disappointment. I’m going to do better. You start walking in a different direction in your mind first. My prayer today is for us to live courageous lives and walk out in faith even when it seems hard to do so.
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Tone It Down
Warning: Sometimes the tone of frustration can lead to miscommunication.
Have you ever been so frustrated you don’t hear what someone is saying. Have you ever become tone deaf in communication with someone? It feels like the CD is scratched and you just can’t listen to it anymore. I have dealt with multiple challenges and communication issues for a few weeks and I am still learning whether I’m speaking a loving truth, or a hard truth I must be aware of my tone.
When I listen to music, if the tone is not right the whole song sounds off, it’s hard to listen and it becomes harsh to the ears. Sometimes we have to tone it down so everyone can hear. When we allow ourselves to hear how God speaks to us in scripture we find His tone always comforts when things are uncomfortable. We find encouragement when we are discouraged and peace in our storms.
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Stop Signs
You ever notice how stop signs are red, some have flashing lights and are meant to be obeyed and seen? Have you ever run through a stop sign perhaps because you didn’t really see it? Or maybe missed a stop on your journey? I was talking to a friend about how to live on pitch the other day and realized that I missed a few stop signs in my own life. I’ll admit I’m a busy person and I try to do everything but I’m learning to stop trying to do it all. Truth is I can’t do everything. God is the only one who can do everything, be everywhere, see and know everything. I had to stop and say to myself, I am not God. I must stop trying to do everything. Health issues become my stop signs when I try to do too much. Another thing I am learning is stop trying to do everything right. It’s all imperfect. Unless God puts His supernatural hands on it, blows divinely on it and blesses it nothing I do is to perfection. Good and perfect gifts come from above according to the Bible. Fear and procrastination become stop signs when I try to do it all so perfectly. I have to tell myself God will accept it as is. When we ignore the flashing lights and fail to see the stop signs in life accidents can happen, life can get overwhelming and nothing gets accomplished. We lose focus on the Master by ignoring the stop signs. What do you need to stop ignoring or doing to live more on pitch for God? I pray you will see the signs, the flashing lights in your life and start living today.
Living On Pitch 