21 Days to your Breakthrough Pt. #5

  Okay, so I’m on day 19 of my 21 day Absolutely No Complaining Challenge, and I must confess although its been a battle, I have realized several breakthroughs as well as victories. I am still working on getting that A+++, but more importantly, I am so much more aware of what is coming out of my mouth and the impact it actually has on my life. Last week I talked about fear and how it can creep up in our actions and conversation, almost undetectable. Because we have been so used to allowing speech that entertains words of fear (even in jesting), we have become desensitized to its true effects. One morning while I was in my quiet time, Holy Spirit dropped some words in my heart that helped me to become more aware of and to recognize when fear is present. Some of these words are; anxiety, worry, frustration, distress, impatience, intolerance, agitation, dread, funk and despair. A few of these words might seem obvious, but others aren’t. Think about the word impatience for example. Why are we so impatient anyway? Have you ever been barreling down the highway, trying to get to a store before the doors closed? I have, and the whole time, the same words kept playing over and over in my mind “you’re not going to make, you’re not going to make it.” (And I actually did make it!) I don’t know about you but for me that was torture. My own thoughts were tormenting me! Although they had help from the evil one, they were my thoughts just the same, and all inspired by fear. 1 John 4:18 says “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” One of the manifestations of fear is torment, and our Father intends for us to walk in peace and rest (Hebrews 4:10-11). What about despair? Could it be that because we are unsure about the outcome of something, we give into the emotion of hopelessness/fear and give up? I’m not saying that all the time these emotions are present, it is a sign of fear, but certainly they can be an indication that we are not fully and completely walking in faith.

So…this is what I’ve learned in my 21 day journey of the Absolutely No Complaining Challenge. Before I am tempted to complain, I stop and think about the reason I am complaining. Is it because of fear, pride, selfishness, anger, or bitterness? Occasionally I might have a few legitimate reasons to complain, maybe I really did get the short end of the stick, or maybe I let someone’s  problem became my problem, or maybe I ran out of gas because the person who was supposed to put gas in the tank didn’t, or whatever!!!!….I still have the commandment to walk in love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says it like this, Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, ⁵ never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. ⁶ It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. ⁷ If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him (TLB).

I don’t know about you, but I still have quite a bit of work to do….until next time!

Blessings always,

Terri

PS. If you haven’t purchased your copy of First Ladies Club, you can, just click the link! Thanks!

21 Days to Your Breaktrough Pt.# 4

I’m a new Grandmother! Well ‘newish’ grandma. My daughter Daria gave birth to my second grandchild, Baby Girl Blanton, (at the time of this post, she still doesn’t have a name). Now if you’ve been following my blog, you might ask what does having a new granddaughter have to do with the 21 Day Absolutely No Complaining Challenge? I’m glad you asked. Let me start at the beginning.

Yesterday, the day my granddaughter was born, I had my day all planned out. You know how it is when you have everything set up exactly the way you intend to spend your day. Well that was me, All figured out. Step by step, down to the last detail. Morning devotional, walk the dogs, do my homework, plan the menu for the upcoming baby shower, everything down to the last detail. Life was good. And I was doing great on my 21 Day Absolutely No Complaining Challenge. Sailing right along, then I got the telephone call. It was my daughter Daria informing me that I needed to come  to the hospital ASAP!

This is where things got a little dicey!

Let me first say that admittedly I like to be in control of everything and when I have to relinquish any control, historically it hasn’t been good, for me or any other parties involved, but… God is helping me. So when I was informed that I had to abandon all my plans and come immediately to the hospital, instantly my lips wanted to go into gear. My main concern was that I  had a homework assignment that had to be submitted by 11:59 pm or I would not get a passing grade. So immediately in my mind I started trying to figure out how I was going to juggle everything in my day, without missing anything. Honestly it seemed impossible. I needed to be at the hospital ASAP, but I needed to do everything on my ‘to do’ list as well. So….I shamefully I admit, I started to grumble. (I’m hanging my head in shame). It should have been one of the happiest moments in my life, but I got caught up in MY feelings, but thankfully as soon as I started complaining, Holy Spirit checked me. He asked me “didn’t you pray this morning?” Humbly I answered yes, in fact this particular morning I woke up with praying on my Spirit, so I prayed in the spirit for sometime before I even got out of my bed. So then He gently reminded me, “if you’ve already prayed, what are you worried about?” Then it hit me! The emotion that I was feeling was really fear, having to be in control of everything is a form of fear (more on that later). I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to get everything accomplished. Fear was the culprit! And remember fear is what I’ve been talking about  in this blog. Fear is what kept the children of Israel out of their promised land, fear is what will keep us from obtaining all God has for us, and fear will get us tossed into the lake! Long story short, God hates fear.

But thanks be to God, I saw the light!!! So… instantly I just shut my mouth, did everything I could do before I left my house, and left the rest up to God. I just trusted that it would all work out. And…..it did! We made it to the  hospital, I got to love on my new grand-baby and my daughter, got back home, completed AND posted my homework before the deadline. Every task accomplished and with time to spare!

God is teaching me to trust Him more and more. Literally  every day I get a new faith lesson. I give myself a B+ on this one, the next time it will be A+++! Until next time, keep those lips on lock and keep trusting God!

#nofearonlyfaith!

Blessings always,

Terri

21 Days to Your Breaktrhough Pt#3

  Okay, so I’m on day7 of the 21 Day Absolutely NO Complaining Challenge, and I had a hiccup! This latest blast of snow got me. I was doing pretty good until I had to drive in it, that was my downfall. Navigating the dicey roads got my lips to flappin’ and out came the complaints. But I repented, and I’m back on the challenge. Thank God for being so forgiving. That leads me to another scripture Holy Spirit directed me to as I am undertaking this challenge. That is Revelation 21:8, it says “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” I remind you that complaining is a manifestation of unbelief and fear, this scripture says that the fearful and unbelieving will have their part in the lake…that’s a game changer. Fear and unbelief are in the same category as murderers! If that doesn’t help us put a bridle on our lips nothing will! So…keep it movin’ with less lip action!

Blessings always,

Terri

PS, for all you who are waiting for the sequel to ‘First Ladies Club’ hold on a little while longer, it’s on the way. And for those of you who are waiting for the book to be released in paperback, it should be available next month!

21 Days to your Breakthrough Pt#2

Can you hurt the heart of God?

Day 4 of my absolutely NO complaining challenge and I am doing great! Consciously paying attention to what is coming out of my mouth has opened my ‘spiritual’ eyes so many truths. One thing I would like to share is something Holy Spirit imparted to me during my quiet time, and that is, complaining is really a manifestation of unbelief, and unbelief really hurts the heart of God. As you recall in my last post, I mentioned the devastating affects of disbelief and the impact it had on the children of Israel not being able to enter their promised land. But it occurred to me that unbelief not only affects us, but our heavenly Father as well. Imagine how you as a parent would feel if your children, who you thought trusted you implicitly, really didn’t. Wouldn’t your feelings really be hurt? I remember when my oldest daughter Dionne went way off to Richmond Virginia for her first year of college. I was devastated! I couldn’t bear the thought of her being so far away from me, but it was her choice, I  had to let her go. During the first few weeks of her adjustment period, she needed additional funds asap! She called me and within a few hours, (and the help of some local bank employees), we were able to get her the much needed funds. Without going into all the details, she was counting on me to come through for her, and I did. She believed if she called me, she would get just what she needed. What about us? When we call on God to come through for us, do we really believe He will? Or do we still worry and go to plan B or C ? I would have been so hurt if my daughter didn’t think that I could come through for her, and that’s how our God feels when we operate in unbelief, especially when He has come through for us over and over again. Check out what Hebrews 4:1-7 says;

‘Although God’s promise still stands—his promise that all may enter his place of rest—we ought to tremble with fear because some of you may be on the verge of failing to get there after all. ² For this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us—has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn’t do them any good because they didn’t believe it. They didn’t mix it with faith. ³ For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest. He has said, “I have sworn in my anger that those who don’t believe me will never get in,” even though he has been ready and waiting for them since the world began.⁴ We know he is ready and waiting because it is written that God rested on the seventh day of creation, having finished all that he had planned to make.⁵ Even so they didn’t get in, for God finally said, “They shall never enter my rest.” ⁶ Yet the promise remains and some get in—but not those who had the first chance, for they disobeyed God and failed to enter.’ TLB

The text actually says that unbelief angered God and as a result, He promised that they would never enter the promised land! Something to think about, don’t you agree?

The enemy has painted a pretty good picture that complaining is not really a big deal, just a slightly annoying habit, but God’s word clearly shows us otherwise. Until next time, watch those lips!

Blessings always,

Terri

PS, if your taking the challenge with me, share your thoughts or scriptures that help you keep a bridle on your tongue.

21 Days to Your Breaktrhough!

Need a breakthrough? Are you up for a challenge?

Consider taking the 21 day, absolutely no complaining challenge!

Now you’re probably wondering what this 21 day challenge has to do with breakthroughs. I’m so glad you asked!

Remember the children of Israel? Remember they were on an eleven day journey to the land that was promised to them by Jehovah God? Remember it took them 40 years and most of them died in the wilderness without even setting one toe in their promised land? Now do you remember why they didn’t make it to their promised land? Let me help you...murmuring, complaining and unbelief. The three big thieves that steal so many of our promised lands today! In this series of posts, I’m going to share some valuable information about how not to make the same mistake God’s chosen people did. Remember we are ‘chosen’ too, and if we aren’t careful, these three thieves will still our breakthrough too!

Are you up for the challenge? If you are, follow me on Face Book, share any thoughts or scriptures that help you keep your ‘lips’ on pause.

Blessings always,

Terri

21 Days to Your Breakthrough Pt.#1

Need a breakthrough? Are you up for a challenge?

Consider taking the 21 day, absolutely no complaining challenge!

Now you’re probably wondering what this 21 day challenge has to do with breakthroughs. I’m so glad you asked!

Remember the children of Israel? Remember they were on an eleven day journey to the land that was promised to them by Jehovah God? Remember it took them 40 years and most of them died in the wilderness without even setting one toe in their promised land? Now do you remember why they didn’t make it to their promised land? Let me help you...murmuring, complaining and unbelief. The three big thieves that steal so many of our promised lands today! In this series of posts, I’m going to share some valuable information about how not to make the same mistake God’s chosen people did. Remember we are ‘chosen’ too, and if we aren’t careful, these three thieves will still our breakthrough too!

Are you up for the challenge? If you are, follow me on Face Book, share any thoughts or scriptures that help you keep your ‘lips’ on pause.

Blessings always,

Terri

Sometimes You Just Gotta Fight Pt.2

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called…,” Yes we are in a battle, but that should come as no surprise to you by now. Satan’s mad, he’s been stripped of his heavenly position and title, we children of God are a constant reminder to him of what kind of fool he really was. He hates us, we all have an unseen bulls-eye on our backs, but it’s okay, we are already declared the winner! Even though we know this, at times the battle can tend to make us a little weary. Jesus knew would become weary, that’s why he admonished us to be steadfast and unmovable. That’s where your battle armor comes in. 2 Corinthians 2:11 warns not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices, his tricks. My daughter and I like to refer to these schemes as his ‘febile attempts’ to derail the saints. Satan doesn’t play fair, he’s a cheat and liar, period. But I am all smiles because I know my ‘Elder Brother’ has already whipped him! When I was little, my sister was my hero. She still is today, Beulah had my back, in everything! I wasn’t an agitator, per se, I never set out to start a fight, but if I somehow ended up in one, I was confident that my ‘big sister’ would save the day. That’s how our God is. He knows that our arch enemy is watching our every move just waiting for any opportunity to pounce on us. That’s why we have to be aware of his devious stunts. That’s why the Word of God is so important. I remember growing up, it seemed as if we lived in the church, but today I am so glad my parents drug me to church, I don’t know what to do. They knew the importance of getting the Word in us. I can truly say, if I hadn’t had the word drilled into me, I don’t know where I’d be.

The shield of faith. I am constantly amazed at two things. How much I am learning and how much I didn’t know. Hosea 4:6 records ‘my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” How true! I know we’ve all  heard the saying ‘what you don’t know can’t hurt you.’ Lies, all lies. And one of the biggest tools of the enemy. He’s counting on us not knowing our Kingdom benefits. He’s counting on the fact that we won’t know what promises rest in the Word of God. But I’m here to tell you, it’s time to immerse yourself in your battle-gear and come out swinging. One of the weapons Paul instructs us to put on is the shield of faith. As I study the Word of God, I see that this shield is probably one of the single greatest, if not the greatest, weapons God has given us. Paul called a shield, but it does so much more that shield us from the attack of the enemy, it is the avenue by which we receive everything from God. I mean everything, From salvation to prosperity to healing and everything else in between. This shield of faith protects us from all the ‘fiery’ arrows of the enemy. Have you ever been hit with a be-be? I have, it really hurts, especially when you are not expecting it. That’s the devil’s trick, he shoots unexpected ‘be-be’s’ and tries to hit us when we least expect it. But the shield is our protection. When we cover ourselves with the shield of faith, even though it looks like we are losing, we are actually winning because the Word says that we are more than conquerors. Stay under your shield!

More next week,

blessings always, Terri

p.s. For all you ladies waiting the release of ‘First Ladies Club’ in print, your wait is almost over! Stay connected to my Face Book fan page, You can also check out a sample First Ladies Club of it on Amazon, just click the link.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Fight Pt.1

Have you ever seen two women fight? It is a scary scene. I remember when I was in high school and I witnessed a fight in the lunch room between two girls,  and of course it was over a boy.  These two females went to ba-l-o-w-s! It was ugly. I remember the one girl, I’ll call her Sheila, as soon as the wolf tickets started flying, she started taking out  her earrings. Should have known that meant trouble. Sheila was out for blood and poor Moisha (the victim) didn’t stand a chance. Hair got pulled, clothes got ripped, chairs in the lunch room got flipped and pushed all over the floor. It was a hot mess. And the fight went on until finally the principle of our school broke it up. Although Moisha put  up a valiant effort, she got the stuffin’ beat out of her. Shame. Moisha was probably the innocent victim of some high-school drama mess. Too bad Moisha couldn’t take Sheila down, she was a bully and probably needed a good whoppin’. But Moisha didn’t have the right tools. And then there’s the story my sister tells of her experience with a bully. I don’t think she’ll mind me sharing, after all, it’s for a good cause.  It seems this girl, I’ll call her Kate, didn’t like my sister and would run my sister home everyday from the playground. This scenario played out over and over in spite of the efforts of my mother to intervene by addressing Kate’s parents. Well one day, my sister, bless her brave heart, headed back to the playground, but this time she had her jump rope with her. She and her friends played jump rope until Kate started bullying her again. My sister made her usual b-line across the street to the safety of our house, as Kate followed her and continued taunting  her. Then all of a sudden something clicked in mt sister’s head. I don’t know if it was rage or fear or that she remembered the words of my aunt Liz who said if she let Kate run her home again, that she was going to whip her too. I don’t know it was, but she stopped, turned around and took that jump rope and beat the stew out of Kate. She beat Kate so badly with the jump rope that she had whelps all over her body. Kate was so badly beaten that soon after the incident, my mother received a telephone call from Kate’s mother threatening police action. My mother’s only response was that Kate was asked to stop her attacks but refused to, and it was only a matter of time until my sister would get enough. ‘Nuf said. And by the way, the infamous jump rope was never seen again. I said all this to say; sometimes you just gotta kick butt. Not other people’s butts, but the devil’s butt.

Fight the good fight of faith. 1 Timothy 6:12 says “Fight the good fight of faith…” There’s a time to be cute, and then there’s a time to just get ugly. You can’t be pretty and fighting at the same time, And I think it’s about time we got to ugly. We are up against a formidable foe, but thankfully he’s already a beaten one. He’ll huff and puff and try to make you think that he’s all that, but the Word of God tells us that Satan in under our feet. He just makes a lot of noise when your walking on his face. This passage of scripture is the only one where we are given precise instruction where we are told exactly what we are to be fighting, Not family members, co-workers, ex-husbands or wives, but the good fight of faith. Paul knew that our faith fight would be the most precious fight we will ever engage in. It is simply a matter of life or death. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing about the importance of our faith fight. Stay tuned!

Blessings always,

Terri

We made it!

Well everyone, 2015 is officially one week old, and I for one can say ‘I made it!’ 2014 for me was truly a ground-breaking, momentum creating year. There were a few potholes along the way, but the good days far outweighed the bad ones. I am looking forward to 2015 picking up and continuing on where 2014 left off. This is going to be the BEST year yet of my life!! Stay blessed!

Hold My Mule!

Can I be real for about 2 seconds?

Is it me or is anybody else already encountering some crazy during this holiday season? I know we are supposed to be thankful, and really I am. I’m thankful that God has kept me in the realm! ‘Cause folks want me to come out of it quick, fast and in a hurry! I’m just asking the Lord to hold my mule! My original post this week was initially to encourage everyone to remain stress free during the holidays, however I forgot how ignorant people can become in the isles of a store, especially if turkeys are on sale for .98 cent per pound!

I was just minding my business, making my purchases and unfortunately there was a small snafu. I needed to have an item replaced and trying to be aware of the customer behind my, I told the cashier to just forget it, I could come back at another time. BUT the cashier insisted on having someone retrieve the other item right then. As I stood waiting in line for the item exchange, the woman standing in line behind me proceeds to pull out her cell and tell whoever was on the other end of the line that she was ‘waiting on this woman.’ Now let me set this up for you, there were several lanes that had no one in line,  I repeat, no one. If she was in such a hurry why didn’t she just walk her happy self to the lane next to me, pay for her items and leave? Why did she feel she had to wait on me? She didn’t know me, she wasn’t paying for my groceries, and she didn’t have to stand in line behind me, she chose to. But if I  had said, ” ‘scuse me ma’am you don’t have to wait on me, you can skip your happy self on over the the next lane”, then I would have been the bad one!

Yes this is the season to be thankful and I am. I’m so thankful I know who Jesus is! And I’m so thankful that I’m determined to see his face in peace! So everybody stay calm, avoid foolishness if you can. But just in case you can’t, just tell the ‘Lord “hold my mule!”

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Blessings always,

Terri Liz

P.S.

If you haven’t purchased your copy of my latest book, First Ladies Club, just click the link. You can also check out my website for all my books @ www.terrielizabethhubbard.com. Don’t forget to stop by my Facebook fan page and leave your comments!