My journey too  “Authentic Living.”

This is a topic that really speaks to me because it affects so much of our lives either positively or negatively. I’ve learned this through experience, so I thought I’d share a bit more of my journey of discovery to an authentic life.

By my loose definition, authentic living is living a life that works for you, instead of struggling against the one you have been given. It is finding satisfaction, contentment and fulfillment in the present. It is living on purpose and with purpose. And, perhaps more importantly, it is a life where we are useful to people around us because we are able to give of ourselves in the way we want to.

It can be a life filled with dreams, hard work and determination, but at its foundation is authenticity to both who we are and what is appropriate for us at any given point in life. It is like a compass, it helps us to determine if we are spending our time and money appropriately. It is living well within our means not only financially, but emotionally, physically, and spiritually as well.

As I find myself in my 40s, I feel that I am poised now to be living my most authentic life, because I have had more experience with what works for me and what doesn’t. While authenticity is something I always believed in, it has taken time, trial and error to really grab a hold of what it means to me and how I live that out. That is not to say I have it all figured out, I’m still learning and adjusting. I’m still on the journey of discovery and growth.

What I have learned for myself is that the goal is not always to make everything perfect around me, but to LIVE fully, to the best of my ability, wherever I am. It is being content to balance my life with what God gives me!

I have had to change my focus and perception of how I look at life. Yes, sometimes that has meant moving to a new place, or staying on the same job and position in order to live more peacefully.

Now that I am fully embracing authentic living, my intent remains the same in spite of my circumstances or whims. Authentic living isn’t necessarily being perfect or without flaws or living beneath your anointing , as some may think, it is living on purpose and with purpose according to what I have been given.

I have had to make some sacrifices in order to fully live Authentic and Content in the moments I have.  I can’t chase down authenticity or find it somewhere it doesn’t exist.  Authenticity looks different at my house than it might look at your house.

You can’t necessarily spot someone who is living authentically just because of the car they drive, the kind of house they live in, the things they have, or the place they buy their groceries.

Authenticity is a series of personal decisions I make every day. While I sometimes think it would be great to go back in time and make life a “do over” I’m content where I am today. Life isn’t perfect, struggles still loom over us and some uncertainty of our future remains. But I’m happy to just fully live in the moments I’m given.

So, in a nutshell, that is my journey towards authentic living.

Peace & Blessings

Wellington's Mom

Jesus Makes All Things New

JESUS MAKES ALL THINGS NEW!

 

 

 

 

With the newness of spring all around just think about the fact that you have a brand new start each and every day to please and serve God.  Did you make a mistake yesterday?  Are you sorry that you did? 

 

Repent.  Ask God to forgive you and the Holy Spirit to help you make right choices.  Then remember that Jesus makes all things new!  That's right, wipe those tears, put on a smile and go out and make a difference for the kingdom of God!

 

Come on...the world is waiting for you!

 

 

 

 

Power of Gratitude

Are you waiting for something out of the ordinary and miraculous to show up before giving your heartfelt gratitude?

I have news for you…While you're waiting for a miracle, you are missing hundreds of miracles that are unfolding before your very eyes.  Until you learn how to be thankful for the little things, God won't be able to release more.

It's not because He doesn't want to.  God wants to give you everything your heart desires.  But He will always show you more of what you are looking for.

So here's a question to ask yourself.  What are you looking for?  Are you looking for chaos in your relationships?  Are you looking for struggles in your career?

You may be surprised what answer you come up with.

This morning was nothing out of the ordinary.  But I felt a rush of joy as I gave thanks for all the beautiful things in my life even before I got out of bed.  Since I've been in the habit of practicing gratitude, God has brought so many miracles into my life.  And I never, ever want a minute to go by without acknowledging his work in my life.

He has blessed me with a wonderful family, and a healthy mind and body.  He has given me a relationship that I've always dreamed of with a man who makes me smile every time I lay eyes on him.  I am amazed at my handsome little boy who brings such joy to my world and I can not even remember what my life was llike before him.

If I were wishing for "more" (more money, a better car, a bigger house…) I would completely miss what is in front of me right now.

What can you give thanks for in this present moment?  Take 5 minutes right now, close your eyes, and just give thanks for all the simple things in your life that you may have taken for granted.  Just see how good you feel!  How different could your life be if you just started your day off with this practice?

Peace & Blessings
Wellington's Mom

My Prayer For The Purpose-Filled Women

I decided to allow myself a little time today to reflect on PURPOSE and PASSION before blogging and just focus on the consistency of the message that God wants me to share. 

This morning in meditation, I heard these words so clearly, and I know in my soul that I'm not the only one who needs to hear this.  So this is for all you women who are craving more for your life.

"Believe in yourself.  What you want wants you.  Success wants you.  PURPOSE and PASSION want you.  The desires that are burning in your heart are there so that you share it with others."

And my ego mind starts butting in, (as it so often will!) saying "Who are YOU?  What do you have to say that hasn't been said?  So many people are far ahead…you'll never catch up."

I pray. I listen.

God speaks,

"These desires have been placed in your heart.  Not for you to hoard and keep to yourself, but for you to share.  You don't need to reach the world right away.  Start with your home.  Start with your friends.  Begin with your community.  Open your heart and all you need will be given to you."

Me,

God, guide my actions and purify my heart and mind so that I can live on purpose.  That my little thinking be replaced with the power that is my divine right.  When I have doubt, I pray that You remind me that You are always with me, and with You, all things are possible.  I pray this for myself and every other woman who knows that she is destined for more.  This year we do not look back, we do not regret.  Together, we move forward- powerfully fueled by our inner guidance that will always be our truth.  Amen.

Peace & Blessings

Wellington's Mom

Prayer As An Everyday Habit

How do you use prayer in your life?  Do you pray and beg on your knees when you feel that you have no other option?  Do you have a daily conversation with God?  Are you asking from a place of "not having" or do you pray knowing that your prayers have already been answered?

Prayer for most people is like dieting; you do it after you've reached a level of frustration and helplessness.  At some point, it's time to stop asking for guidance out of desperation, and begin everyday empowered with the knowing that all you have to do is ask.

We all have an inner guide that wants to help us experience the fullness of life.  In order to discover it, we must first turn inward and shut out the outer world to receive the good that is waiting for us.  Prayer is how we receive this guidance.

God has already promised to provide you with everything you want.  Your job is just to ask.  Don't get wrapped up in trying to figure out how it will happen, or if it's possible.  If you can imagine it, God can surely provide it to you.  God isn't too busy or uninterested in your life to care about the little things.  He has his hand in your life to the smallest details.  But you first have to ask, and then to believe.

It sounds so easy, but you may already be arguing, saying that things don't work that way for you.  So let me ask you, are you in a place to receive the gifts that you've asked for?

Do you see yourself as a worthy recipient?  You have already been given permission by God to ask for anything that you desire.  That leaves nothing out!  But everyday we sell ourselves short by taking what we feel we deserve instead of what God says we can have.

Let prayer and receiving be a crucial part of your day.  Ask and know that it is already provided for you.  Give thanks for the gifts that are still unseen.  As you build your prayer muscles, just watch as miracles unfold!

Peace & Blessing
Wellington's Mom

A Day Of Prayer

Good Morning Everyone,

This morning I'm in a more prayerful mood. So, I decided to pray for all of us this morning.

Lord, I pray for everyone reading this blog. I pray for their families and loved ones. Bless all of us today. Allow us to feel Your presence and touch as we go about our day.

This is a time of remembering your Son and the fact that He came to save us. Thank you for sending Him, thank you for allowing Him to repair the breach. Help us to not get so caught up in the presents, errands, cooking, and fellowship that we forget the real reason we are celebrating: Jesus' birth.

Father, watch over us during this season. Keep your arms of protection wrapped around us, shelter us with your wings. There is so much negativity going on, and we ask that you shield us with your mighty hand.

God, we ask you to order our footsteps. Allow us to live on purpose following your will in all things. Help us to hear the voice of the Spirit clearly with any decision that we have to make. Let us walk in assurance that we are in your will.

Give us a boldness to speak to others of your goodness. When you nudge us to open our mouths, help us to follow through and speak the Word of the Lord to those who are in the most need of hearing it. Let us point someone to You today. Let us be that example to the world of what it means to be in Christ.

Thank You, Lord, for your many blessings. We could not have reached this point if it was not for you. We thank You for Your awesome love, and we praise You.

Amen.

Have a great day, everyone!

Verse of the Day: My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:3

Blessings,

Wellingtons Mom 

Pray Without Ceasing

In I Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to Pray without ceasing. We are to be in communication with the Lord at all times, without stopping, no interruptions.

How many of us truly keep up with this command?

Anybody?

No one?

We basically don't even attempt ceaseless prayer because we don't see how we can do any one thing ceaselessly but breathe - and we do that automatically.

However, the premise of this verse is played out in our lives more than we think. We just don't apply it to prayer.

Many of us give ceaseless attention to our phones. I know my phone is the first thing I check when I wake up, and the last thing I look at before I go to sleep. It never leaves my side during the day, and I am always checking it for updates. Let's not even talk about what happens if I forget it somewhere. It's ceaselessly a part of my day.

Others of us give our ceaseless attention to that special man or woman in our lives. We think about them constantly: wondering how they're doing, anticipating the next time we'll see them, thinking of ways to make them feel special. They are constantly on our minds.

Then there are those of us who ceaselessly give our focus to our jobs. We wake up with the job on the brain, spend all of our time at the job, and constantly think about our work. Ceaseless!

There are many other items that can be placed in that slot. Yet what should be taking precedence is our relationship with the Father.

He is who should be the first person we think about in the morning. It should be Him we are looking to for guidance as we go about our day. When issues arise, it is He who we should talk to. As we go through our day, we should be looking for ways to show Him love in how we live.

Jesus modeled this principle perfectly. He was a man who lived a life of prayer. He did nothing unless He got the okay or example from the Father. As a result, He lived a life of focused purpose. Never once do you see Jesus worried, afraid, lost, or depressed. He stayed on target and was able to fulfill His life's mission without extra time or detours.

Who knows how much our lives could improve if we just took on an attitude of constant communication with God?

Today, make the effort to put this verse into practice. Before you check in on the apps on your phone, text a friend, call that special someone, take on another project at work, or do whatever it is that snatches most of your time during the day, have a conversation with your Heavenly Father. Ask Him what's on His heart for you today. Listen for His words of love and give Him some in return.

He wouldn't ask us to consistently stay connected if it wasn't for our good. Let's put that word to work!

Verse of the Day: Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17

Peace & Blessings

Wellingtons Mom