Who Inspires You

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God...." Acts 20:24

Before I could begin to write about "who" inspires me, I had to spend a little time mulling over "what" inspires me....and by "what" I mean character qualities. You know, those aspects of those you admire that make them stand out to you & cause you to desire to pattern yourself after them in most every way.....some of the character qualities that inspire me are endurance, resilience, steadfastness, joy, perseverance, authenticity, honesty, Holy-Spirit inspired boldness and warmth.....just to name a few.

I've known many folks who have colored my life with these qualities....most of which, I have been blessed to have as close family, and the one other individual, besides my Jesus, who has bolstered my faith and helped set the course for my walk and relationship with God, is the subject of the above Scripture reference taken from the book of Acts....yes, the Apostle himself....Paul.

As I have had opportunity to study Paul's life, I marvel and rejoice over the fact that God could take someone so hopelessly lost, turn his life upside down, re-direct his passions and efforts and use him to the degree that Paul was used in spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

He makes the saying true...."If God can use him; He can use anybody!" and that is precisely why his life inspires me so much....Paul himself knew that Jesus hand-picked him to prove that He can redeem anyone. He (Paul) knew it, and he never forgot it all of the days of his life! He instead used that knowledge to face every obstacle and circumstance of his life with single-mindedness of purpose....the purpose of knowing nothing else and doing nothing else but living his life to serve Jesus Christ!

Amazingly in the latter part of verse 22 & in all of verse 23 of the 20th Chapter of the book of Acts, we hear Paul say that he knows the road ahead is going to be rocky, at best, for him..."I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead...." Yet right after saying that, he follows up with our Scripture reference and declares that his life matters not to him, except that he finish the work which The Lord had assigned him....no matter the cost.....no matter the difficulties....no matter the pain!

Oh Girlfriends! How I pray for all of us today that we grow into solidness of purpose and understanding as Paul did that this life simply is not about us....we live to be second, we live to magnify Another, we live to prove, even and often through trials and suffering, that The One we serve is real and that He is the only way to God the Father!

 I'm not certain about you, but the beat of my heart just quickened a few paces....as it always does, when I meditate and ponder on the focus and zeal Paul had....it wasn't just talk....he lived it and in the end, gave his life for it! We may not ever know martyrdom for our faith in Christ, but don't you want to get to the end of your life and be able to say like Paul... "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me-the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me on the day of his return....." 2 Timothy 4:6-8a

I know I want with everything in me to be able to say it....and as long as I have Paul's example in front of me to inspire me; and my sisters beside me to encourage me....I believe I just may get there....and I believe that you will too!

For more inspiration hop on over to   http://holleygerth.com/ and check out the links of my Sista-Girls there! Also, join me Monday morning March 3rd at 10 AM EST on Life On The Grow Blog Talk Radio when we'll be discussing "Living A Life That Inspires!"

What Brings You Joy?

It just so happens, that on the day Holley chose this topic, I was celebrating my 46th birthday. In the midst of eating cake, Lindor truffles, and opening up cards & gifts; I began asking myself the question....."What exactly are the things that bring me joy?"
Being since the day marked the occasion that it did, I needed only to look around me to fully see and appreciate many of the things that bring me the greatest amount of joy in this life.
Truth be told, many of the "things" I am speaking about are not things at all… They are in fact, people. The people who make up the best part of each and every day of my life.
Reading their words of love that they sent via text, Facebook posts, phone calls, and private messages… Caused me to realize afresh that I am deeply loved and greatly cared for by many.
This day was not only a celebration of the beginning of a new year of life, joy, hope, and expectation….It was an opportunity for me to savor all of my blessings…… And to recognize, that no matter how often I blow it, mess up, or fail; there are those whom God has graciously placed in my life who love me despite all of my flaws and weaknesses. And that, caused a wellspring of joy to bubble up within me.
Another of my greatest sources of joy is doing exactly what I am doing now…… Sharing my heart and gifts with the hope of encouraging and building up all those who will have the chance to read this blog.
I cannot tell you what it has meant to me to be part of the "Coffee For Your Heart 2014 Encouragement Challenge...." Via this great collective effort of women joining together sharing their voices, gifts, and talents; I have been encouraged not only to share my gifts, but to prayerfully inspire others to share their God-given gifts also. For me, there is nothing more exciting than seeking the face of our Father and asking Him to manifest Himself in and through the talents He has entrusted to me in order that His Daughters might be led to press in, press on, and seek to know and follow His plan for their lives too.....
Lastly, but certainly not least, is the joy I experience from knowing Christ as not only my Lord and Savior, but from knowing Him as my closest and dearest friend. It is because of Him that everything else I previously mentioned has any existence or even makes any sense.
Truly, the most marvelous thing about knowing Him is my being able to rest in the certainty that if none of those other things existed, or somehow ceased to exist; my joy in Him could still be complete because He is enough…… In Him is joy everlasting, joy complete, the fullness of joy, and where all joy originates……
The Word of God tells us that "The joy of The Lord is our strength...." In the book of Nehemiah, Ezra the scribe and priest, along with The Levites, told the people in chapter 8, verse 10, to cease their mourning over their failure to uphold the instruction of the law; and to begin rejoicing because the day they were celebrating was a holy day and cause for celebration. They were reminded on that day, as we should be every day, that security comes from Yahweh alone.
I am not certain of the circumstances of your life, but this I do know…… "Joy" is a little word with huge implications.... It serves us far better than happiness, which is fleeting and circumstantial at best.…… Because joy runs deep and springs eternal. Just like The God who provides it, it is a sure resource for the weary, a refuge for the hopeless, renewal for the tired, and a respite for those who mourn.
So let me ask you, Sis…… "What brings you joy?" When was the last time you really thought about it? I'm not much of a betting gal, but I am willing to bet that if you spend a little time today, just like I did last week, pondering over this vital question; you'll find that you have a lot more to be joyful for than perhaps you even think.....
Based on Nehemiah 8:10-12 and John 15:11


For more encouragement and discussion on what brings you joy don't forget to head on over to http://holleygerth.com/ to link up with the other gals and myself.
Also, be sure to join me Monday morning, February 24 at 10 AM EST on Life On The Grow blog talk radio as I'll be chatting about "How to Experience More Joy in Your Life…"

No Matter What Happens, You're Going To Be Okay Because......

"All my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began...." Psalm 139:16 b HCSB



God is already there....wherever "there" is....He's already gone ahead of you....He's tread the path, knows every twist & every turn.....He's arrived and is awaiting you with open arms.
There is an amazing truth woven into today's Scripture reference....a truth, that reinforces God's ultimate sovereignty over life and death, and also one that ensures us of the absolute fact that our God knows every single plan He has for us; because He has marvelously planned our lives down to the minutest detail.....
What a blessed assurance we have....not one thing that enters or touches our lives does so behind God's back....He knows it all and better yet, is there to meet us and travel each mile with us.....Every single thing that catches us by surprise is history past to Him.....He's already been there and done that.....
One of the things I've learned from understanding and resting in this truth....is to ask God "what?" rather than "why?" By saying that, I don't mean to give the impression that I always immediately understand or even appreciate everything God allows....there have been, and I am sure will still be, many things that occur in my time on this earth that I won't fully grasp until I step over into eternity....but I have decided that instead of wasting precious time striving with God and potentially getting stuck in the "why's" of life....my time is better spent by asking Him "what he wants to teach me in every circumstance of life....." Doing this helps me better accept , by faith, the things that don't make sense; and also helps me focus in on growing up in Christ, rather than feeling helplessly tossed and driven by the ever-changing seas of this life......
I want you to do something, Sis....I want you to read that first line over again; until it really sinks in.....until the truth of it makes it's way into your bloodstream and has a chance to touch every single aspect of your being! I want you to practice this truth until it becomes a permanent part of your thought life....Because no matter what happens, you're going to be okay....I've read the back of The Book.....He's there and we win!!!


To be reminded by a few other ladies that you're gonna be okay; head on over to http://holleygerth.com/ and read the other links found on her page! Enjoy and be blessed!

Encouraging Words For Your Tough Days....

We all have them....those days that seem to stretch on ad nauseum while dragging us painfully and dishearteningly through the muck and the mire.....
We especially have more of those days, it seems, whenever we are trying to focus on accomplishing the purpose and very work for which God called us into this world in the first place.....
So when those days strike, this "Words of Affirmation" gal usually finds herself in need of a healthy dose of "wordy" reassurance....with that in mind, I'd like to do for you ladies today....what I absolutely LOVE to have done for me....I want to give you some encouragement....especially for your tough days!
On the days when you feel small & inadequate, remember that you are enough! God rarely calls the equipped....but He certainly does extend His more than adequate equipping to everyone He calls!
When you feel as though you don't measure up to the rest.....remember....you don't have to! God did literally break the mold when He made you....which means you get to run your own race, at your own pace with your God, who has lovingly & uniquely designed just the "right" work for you to complete on His behalf....in other words, He has a work for you to do that will bring Him glory as well as good to you & others!
On the days when fear threatens to paralyze you..........remember that the Spirit that is housed within you is one of power, love and stability.....you serve The One and Only..... The One and Only who spoke the universe and all that's in it into existence! He is for you....He rejoices over you with singing....what in the world do you have to fear? Yes, I understand that the future is unknown to us and life plainly hurts at times, but we never experience anything in this life that our God cannot understand, cannot walk us through, cannot deliver us from, cannot help us overcome & certainly, cannot work for our good!
On those days, please remember that Jesus came so that you might live in victory....not defeat! He came so you might have an abundant life...live it to the full, and hopefully, invite a few folks to the party!
God doesn't need you, Sis....that's for sure.....yet, cooler still & don't you ever forget it; HE WANTS YOU!!! In the purest, most passionate sense of the expression! He wants you so much that He went to the farthest degree possible to ensure that He would have you as His own...not just in this lifetime, but forever!
So the next time you run across those folks that the enemy is so great at putting in our path who seem to just delight in knocking us down a peg or 2.....I hope I come to your mind....I hope you'll remember that you have a gal pal in this world who wants you to know that you're a gem, a peach, the cat's meow.....all that and a bag of chips.....and she thinks it not cause she's bias and just desires to placate you with a little false flattery....but because she too knows the God you serve and she thinks you're great....even on the tough days.....cause He does too!!!!


*Remember...to take in more great encouragement for your tough days....head on over to http://holleygerth.com/ and let the other gals who have linked in on her page lighten your heart with love and hope! Then, join me Monday, February 10th, at 10 AM EST on Blog Talk Radio, so we can continue today's conversation! Love & Blessings!*