You must have Faith.

Faith

#Love365 is making a difference! If you are participating in the #Love365 movement and have positive reports to tell...do share! I would love to hear some of the ways in which you are showing love EVERY day.

===========================================

The topic for this blog is Faith.  I'm sure many of you have some amazing stories of how you prayed...and God answered! There is nothing like sending a prayer from your mouth to Gods ears and having it answered. Not only answered but things work out in such a way that you KNOW it's only God because of how smooth and effortless things just fall into place! 

Prayer must be backed up by faith. Once you send your request or petition to God you have to believe by faith that if that request is indeed in His will...it SHALL be answered. You can't doubt. You have to stand firm and believe that it will all work out for your good. You have to have faith that despite what you see God knows all and will come to your rescue. 

What do I mean by that? Let me give you my testimony: I recently encountered several things that seemed to be coming at me all at once! Things that I could not do myself and things that I know only God could resolve or make happen. For those of you who know me...you know I am a work in progress when it comes to worry. But hey, who isn't. *smile* I knew that the only way things would work out was if God himself did it. No money, scheme, resource or person could do it. I worried, I cried, I lost sleep, I was feeling down and it all just consumed me. Then one day in service it hit me..."Wait, I don't have to worry when I can pray." It really was that simple once I came to my senses. I wrote the items on a piece of paper. I prayed and told God I could not fix any of them on my own. I threw the pieces of paper in the trash on my way out of church promising that I would NOT take them back home! I would not worry or lose anymore sleep over things I had NO control over. It felt so liberating to cast my situations on God and not worry. I slept so well that night and we had a wonderful day after church. I'm not saying they never crossed my mind from time to time but when they did, I prayed and let them go. Within a few weeks God had answered my prayers! Thank you JESUS!

Lesson Learned: Sometimes in life things will happen that you cannot handle or control on your own. As humans we always want to fix things on our own. I believe God lets certain things come to us to show us that we must depend on Him. People say, "God won't put more on you than you can handle." I don't believe that! I think He DOES...because it's in THOSE times that we realize we are not God! We must depend on Him and he knows exactly what situations to use to show us that. Life will put your back against the wall and you have no place else to turn BUT to God. He does that so when He does move there is NO way you can explain it away to anything or anyone else. Those tests are faith builders. You have to trust that if God did it before He can and will do it again! 

What are you praying for? Do you have the faith to back up your prayer? Try it and see just how amazing God is! I am a living testimony of how prayer AND faith WORKS!

Have a super day! Love you all.

Chanel-

Love. Life. Joy.

Love. Life. Joy

Happy Valentine's Day 2012!

Love: A powerful motivator. Love will make you feel on top of the world...or down in the dumps. Love is something everyone desires. Love must be nurtured and cherished each and every day. Make the commitment to "Love 365" days a year. That is the key to really experiencing the fullness that love has to offer. I call it Love in the bank. Making deposits to your Love account on sunny days so when the storms come you can borrow a little sunshine to get you through. Love with no expectations. Love when it's unexpected. Love like the person will not be here from one moment to the next. Love unconditional. I've dedicated to the "Love 365 Challenge." I will do something everyday to show my love and dedication. Just little things…nothing big or grand. Simply small gestures of love to cherish each and every day you are blessed to have it. Paint her fingernails, leave a love note in his/her lunch bag, sing a song, write a poem...the simple small things to show them love. I challenge you all to do the same. So, Get Busy "Loving!"

Life: Has a funny way of happening when we are trying to figure it all out. It constantly does what it is intended to do....go on. Life is unique in that it has already been scripted. We are just mere cast members in the ever evolving production. Life is precious. Life is filled with ups and downs. Life can bring you to your knees and produce blows that can literally take your breath away. Life can bring you so much happiness, excitement, and some of the BEST moments you've ever experienced. Life is unpredictable. One minute you have not a care in the world...the next all hell has broken loose! The one thing we all know is that we only get ONE life to live so we must make the best of it.

Joy: The biggest of them all. And purpose of this blog. As we celebrate Valentine's Day we must keep love and life in perspective. Humanly love may come and go. You may have the perfect Valentine or none at all. Love may have you on top of the world today! Love may also have you cringing at the sight of a red balloon or flowers. Love and Life may have you in a place where you really will just be glad when February 14th is OVER. As unpredictable and fickle as life and love are...there is nothing like Joy. Joy comes from within. Joy is the peace within even when love and life aren't a bed of roses. Joy is knowing that no matter what's going on around you there is inner peace. 

God gives Joy. External circumstances and people give you happiness. Joy is something God promised to give us and NEVER take away regardless of how we act, what we do or what decisions we make. Happiness is temporary. It is contingent upon people, life and circumstances. We have money...we are happy. We have love...we are happy. We have great heath...we are happy. Everything is going according to our plans...we are happy.

You have JOY no matter what. Strive to embrace Joy in everything. Joy is priceless. It will make the difference in your attitude, outlook and responses. I hope this helps someone. I know it helped me :)

Enjoy your Valentine's day!

(I love you Sweetpea)

Chanel-

Transparency Series #1

I wanted to do something different.

This Blog isn't my typical entry.


I decided to do a blog entry just to get my thoughts recorded. I will call it my "Transparency Series." I realize that blogs are more authentic when people get to read/see vulnerability in the writer. So much has happened in the past two weeks. Some really wonderful things and some things I wish would just go away! I can say that my faith has increased here lately because for the first time in my life I realize I cannot do this thing called life without handing things over to God. I would literally worry myself into an early grave. It's like, when something goes wrong I obsess over it. Worrying about how I'm going to "fix" it..what will the outcome be? Things like that. I had to stop and say. "If I keep down this road...I'm going to cause all kinds of health problems and probably not live a authentic life." So, I decided to release control. I do what I can...and I make sure I'm living the best life I can...but other than that..I release the need to fix problems, my future or anything therein. I just can't do it. I know this is exactly where God wanted me to be all along. I just had to get tired of being tired. I must add...I have peace with it all and I like this feeling :)
For the first time in my life I'm seriously considering hanging up my school career. I have my AS and my BS degree. I am 30 credits into my MS. I'm an "A" student and school comes easy for me. But..I'm tired. My attention span at 35 is NOT the same as it was at 25. These late night 11pm classes are killing me! Especially since I've been up since 6am and had to put in 8 hours at my full-time job! It's just too much at this point. I'm going to be married soon and prayerfully having my first kid this year. School just doesn't fit into the picture anymore. I know people will say.."you're SO close to finishing!" But, they are not the ones literally waking up after a long night in school wanting to cry when it's time to get up for work the next morning. If it's meant for me to go back at some point in my life, I will. For now...I'm really just feeling like that season is over for me.
I have faith that things will work out for EVERYTHING I'm facing in this season. The baby, job, school, house, finances, health...everything. Faith is not a feeling. It's believing that despite what you see...you believe that somehow, some way...God will make a way and come through on your behalf. As He's done SO many times before.

Tired.
Expecting The Great.

I've Changed

I've Changed!

"When someone says that "You've changed"... it's usually because you've stopped living your life their way."

Hey Everyone! I pray that all is well and this blog finds each of you in the best physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. 

The above picture sums up this blog. I LOVE it! I guess I have to come from a personal place with this blog to make it more authentic. I think that using my own personal experiences every now and again is what makes MY blog unique. I'm coming from an intimate place...a real place and I hope that through my sharing people will see themselves and find peace. 

Over the past two years...my life has gone through a major transformation. Major. Sometimes I look at myself, my actions, my thought process and even I can't believe THIS is me. It's funny how life has a way of doing that. Life experiences and situations...have a way of either making you or breaking you. In my situation...I was MADE. Into a new creature. In this transformation, I've had people literally tell me, "you've changed" and at first my response was, "no, I'm the same!" I took slight offense to people telling me that I was this different person and all I could see was the same ole' me. 

A few people drifted away from me, new folks floated into my space, some friendships were challenged, some friendships had to end, and some situations were magnified times a trillion. I began to have clarity on a LOT of things. People who I thought would always be in my life...were no longer. People who I never imagined in a million years became closer than ever. Some people opted not to deal with me anymore. Some people put me at a distance. Some people talked about me behind my back. Some cheered me on. Some people found inspiration in the "new me" and expressed it in many forms. Some people had great difficulty accepting me into their lives when I was no longer the person they framed me to be. Some people were able to find commonalities with where they were and where I am and our bonds grew stronger. Some people viewed me as "fake" or not "keeping it real" anymore. Some people simply didn't care one way or the other...because to them, regardless of the changes that were made in my life...to them, I was still Chanel. Either way...I was okay with how the people in my life felt. I accepted the fact that I cannot change people...I am only accountable for myself. I would not be honest if I didn't say that some reactions hurt me but I also would not be honest if I didn't say, I quickly got over it. 

Throughout this whole experience, all I can say to everyone that knows me is that God has a funny sense of humor. He has an amazing way of showing you so many things about YOU that you may not have been aware of before. He has a way to making things come to a halt in your small little world before opening your eyes to the big picture. He has a way of using things in your life to humble you. To shape and mold you and to redirect you. That’s why I've changed. I now see what things are important and what things are not. I think differently. I react differently. I process things from a different perspective. No, I'm not perfect by ANY MEANS but I am under new management. My new life has Christ as the center and that means I can't do just any and everything. I DO feel bad when I say/do certain stuff. I am convicted when I say/do something that isn't right. I DO have a new sense of compassion and empathy for people. I no longer find certain things "fun" and I no longer desire some of the things I used to. Yes, I have changed. I am held accountable for my actions. I have my faults. My short-comings and my issues that I still deal with. But I am a new person. A better person. I still joke, entertain, and live an AMAZING life! I'm happy with who I am. I'm proud of who I am. And when the day ends...I sleep peacefully at night knowing yes I've changed. But...for the better.

Have an amazing day!!!

Chanel-

A Fresh Start...STOP beating yourself up!

A Fresh Start.....STOP beating yourself up!

Happy New Year Everyone! We are in the land of the living to see a brand new year. That in itself is a blessing. I pray 2012 will be an amazing year for each of you! I have a few "BIG Ticket" items on my prayer list for 2012 so only time will tell what this year has for me. I'm excited and thankful...in advance.

With the New Year...this blog WILL speak to someone, "You have a Fresh start...so STOP beating yourself up about it!" Whatever "it" is. Stop being so hard on yourself. If you have lived to see 2012...you were granted a fresh start to correct it, achieve it, repair it, confront it and obtain it! Thank God for fresh starts! Oftentimes, we are our own worst enemy when it comes to tormenting ourselves. We think worse of ourselves than anyone else does. We create an internal environment of mentally beating ourselves to a pulp over situations we cannot go back and change. There are people reading this blog right now that are still dealing with the guilt of situations that occurred months...even years ago! There must come a time when you confront whatever it is....acknowledge any wrong doing and then leave it alone. We are always taught to forgive other people but more importantly...we must learn how to forgive ourselves. You will be amazed just how many people can forgive others before they forgive themselves. It's impossible to move forward if you are weighed down by the guilt of something you said, something you did (or didn't do) or just not making the best decision in a given situation. 

Your life is not ONLY about the destination. It's about the journey. Along this journey we will make mistakes, we may hurt those people that are close to us and we may fall short of our standards for ourselves at times. Perhaps you feel like you haven't done all you should to be where you want to be in life, maybe you find yourself in a situation that you know could be better. Whatever you are dealing with that causes you to beat yourself up...STOP. This is a NEW Year and you've been given a fresh start. Don't let the enemy convince you that it's too late! Too late to apologize, too late to make amends, too late to address an issue, too late to achieve your goals, to pursue your dreams,  to experience the full joy of this precious life we're been granted! It's NOT too late! With each day we are given a new start and a fresh opportunity to get this thing called life right. 

Let today be YOUR day. Free yourself....you've been given a fresh start.

Have an amazing week!

Chanel-

Thanksgiving 2011

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

My, what a difference a year makes. 365 days granted to do things differently, evolve & self-reflect. Thanksgiving is one of my three favorite holidays. There are no gifts. No expectations. No price-tags. In my eyes, it's the only holiday that is truly about family. Families sharing laughter, great food and creating memories. I reflect back to last year and it wasn't one of my best memories for Thanksgiving. I had such high hopes for it. But, again...my, what a difference a year makes. 

For me, this Thanksgiving is really special. This year I celebrate Thanksgiving: 

 Engaged (the real kind, like with a ring & more importantly the commitment behind it *smiles*)

Wedding date set

 Celebrated my 35th birthday

God willing - kids in the forecast

An amazing partner

A deeper spiritual connection

The best financial position I've EVER been in my life due to no credit of my own (thank YOU Lord)

Super fantastic Awesome genuine friends

A supportive family that is small in numbers but mighty in love

Healthy

And in my right frame of mind

After the Spring Semester, I will be 3 classes away from finishing Graduate School!

What more could I ask for? Nothing!

I have so much to be thankful for and I know all of my blessings come from God. Without Him I am nothing. I'm a work in progress but I'm loving my under construction phase! It's not always easy and it doesn't always feel good but I am indeed Stronger~Better~ & Wiser, than I've ever been.

Love up on your family & friends this Thanksgiving....we never know who may or may not be with us from year to year so, don't take anything for granted. Create new memories & new traditions. Let this be the BEST Thanksgiving you've experienced thus far. I love you all.

Enjoy your Holiday.

Chanel-

"Let It GO!"

'Let It GO!"

 Hey Everyone! I pray all is well with you. It's already November! Wow. The year is almost over and I can say from personal experience, 2011 has been an amazing year! If you would have told me just one year ago that I would be where I am, I would NOT have believed it myself. All I can say is GOD IS GREAT!

This blog is simply titled, "Let it go." I'm not talking about negative things here...I'm specifically talking about the dreams & desires of your heart. Let it go. The things you've been praying for, seeking & desiring. Let it go. Your goals, your aspirations, your ideal future. Let it go. The thing that is so sweet to you at this very moment in your life...you day dream, you obsess, you ponder... over if or when it will come to reality. Let it go.

After you've done the work. Put in the effort. Whisper your desires to the Universe. Release it & Let it go.

I know this is harder for some of us than others. I know I have to work at it daily. But, the one thing I do know is that YOU can only do but so much. After you've put in the work to set the wheels of your desires in motion...the universe is the ultimate deciding factor in terms of if, when, where & how it all unfolds. That I know.  I found in my journey that when you release those things you desire and simply live, they will oftentimes fall into your lap with little to no effort. When you least expect it. Things just....happen. At the perfect time, under the perfect circumstances it will all fall into place. THAT'S when you know it's meant to be. When things just flow and simply fall into place. It's divine timing. If it's meant to be it will be. You cannot keep obsessing over it, worrying about if it will happen or when. Take it as far as you humanly can...then release it back to the universe. 

God knows your dreams, your desires and your ultimate destiny. If the thing you pray for doesn't come in the exact form or timing you expect...please know one thing for sure...when He blesses you, it will be far greater than you could have ever imagined and the timing will be perfect. 

Testimony: I prayed for something very specific. I thought I knew what I needed and when I needed it. I devoted time, energy and gave it 100% of myself. I did all I could. I gave it my all and I thought if I just did that...everything would work out! I couldn't understand why things weren't. I tried so hard to make it a success. But it came to an end. God hit the breaks on it. I know it was Him. But, it was my test. I heard Him say: "You passed the test. NOW, I will bless you." You see, I was doing the right things, even though my intentions were always misread. I was sacrificing for others before myself. I was faithful. I was true. I was dedicated. I was using all the tools I learned the year prior to help me be a better person. I was praying and staying obedient through it all...even though things seemed unfair. I knew my heart was in the right place even when things started to fall apart. Then....I let it go. And out of nowhere...He opened the windows of heaven and blessed me far greater than I could have EVER imagined! I mean, when I tell you things have happened for me this year that only GOD could have done. Every area of my life that came under attack the months and year before were restored 10 times! I watched it all be given back to me bigger and better than it was before. I watched it all happen right before my eyes! He kept his promise to me, that if I could just hold on and make it through my storm...he would restore. More importantly, I learn some valuable life lessons in that season and I'm thankful for the experiences. I would not be the person I am today had it not been for that season of my life. It always brings me to tears because I know the season I had to get through...to get to this side. It was painful, lonely, frustrating & scary. But I held on and released my desires to the Universe and today I stand strong, humble and thankful! 

So, let it Go & know that if it's meant for you...your name is already on it, and it will be granted to you in due season. Hold on.

Have an amazing week!

Chanel-