Joy

The difference between happiness and joy is this: happiness is fleeting and joy is a state of being.

By the power of the Holy Spirit I can remain joyful throughout any situation. No matter how many fiery darts are flying in my direction; darts of disappointment, discouragement, disdain, detestation (wow, this is a word… I like it!!! even though it means “intense dislike” hhahah 🙂 )

As the darts roll in, I can let them roll off. My back, that is.

How?

Because of the knowledge of the Truth that I am in Christ Jesus and was bought by His blood when He died on the cross 2k years ago. I trust Him with my life, and know that I stand victorious with Him against any schemes that the enemy might conjure up.

So. That being said.

I’m at an interesting time in my life. I am still working as a private, in-home caregiver. I also just started a new endeavor doing direct sales. Direct sales can be discouraging if I choose to focus on the outcome of my reach-outs. What I mean by this is simple: rejection.

Nobody likes to be rejected… but if you are working in direct sales, you have GOT to get used to rejection. Not everyone is going to like the products, want the products. Some people may even get nasty. But I know this to be true: the war is not against the flesh and blood, but in the spiritual realm. So when people take out their negativity and hatred on me, I must choose to look past it and believe that (1) it ain’t about me (2) it certainly ain’t about vegan, chemical-free, anti-aging shampoo and skincare (this is what my company offers! <3 ) and (3) I have a real opportunity to shine the light of Christ to each individual through my response to people.

Notice I said “response” and not “reaction”.

A person’s emotional intelligence (EI) can be observed through the way they deal with certain situations. When someone is being difficult, I could mirror back their pettiness and anger to them (as they might expect me to do), or I could treat them with love, compassion, and forgiveness and choose to focus on listening to them and helping them in whatever capacity. This is not to say that we should be rugs.

Don’t be a rug. Repeat: do not be a rug. I don’t want anyone to enable anyone. We are not to be enablers of bad or rude behavior.

But loving? Yes. We should all always be loving. I will listen to you. Even if you come at me from a horrible angle. Because I KNOW that it isn’t about me. Whatever work the Lord has me doing is for my sanctification, His glory, and for the sharpening of other people; be it shedding light in a dark place, encouraging others when they feel alone, enhancing somebody’s life by simply entering into their life.

Being a child of God is a big responsibility! But God didn’t leave us to do it alone. We are empowered by His Holy Spirit.

One of my favorite prayers is this: “Lord, please redirect me if I need to be redirected. Thankyou for always leading me down your path of righteousness. Lord, please line up my will with yours, and kill my desire for anything that isn’t in your will for my life. I want to live according to your design. I want to live life to the full, through the lens of grace.”

Something like that.

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No two prayers are ever the same. None of that ritualistic stuff. I talk to God like I talk to any other person. Openly, honestly, with transparency, authentically. For God knows the words we’re going to speak before we even think them. Isn’t that amazing? Psalm 139 says “even before a word is on my tongue, you know it altogether”.

Lord, you knew that I was going to write this post this morning. You knew that I wanted to go to the early service but then I got held up … and this is the result of that. Lord, I pray that this post and these words blesses somebody. I pray that these words were exactly what somebody needed to hear today. Lord, I thank you for your presence with me right now. Thank you for the opportunity to do laundry this morning. I thank you for my car. I pray that you help me travel safely. Thank you for being able to worship today. Thank you for my lunch meeting. Thank you for the afternoon meeting. Lord help me make good use of my time later. Thank you for my sabbath this weekend. Thank you for restoring me. Your presence is so sweet. Thank you for teaching me how to choose you. Thank you for instilling within me the desire to seek you. I need you. I NEED YOU. Not only do I need you, but I WANT YOU. Do I believe you when you tell me that you’re the lover of my soul? That you love me with an everlasting love? When love is in the air, I just want to HEAR from the person. I can’t wait to SEE the person. I can’t wait to COMMUNE with the person. I VALUE and RESPECT the person. I want this with you. 

I want to hear from you.

I want to see you.

I want to commune with you. 

I value you. I respect you. I trust you. 

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Whatever your vessel is that God has given you to work in, lead in, be a part of, perform in it for His glory. For HIS glory. For God sees the heart. He knows our motives. Do you trust Him?

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xxx

V

Showing Up

It means SO much to just. Show. Up.

Show up to work.

Show up to a party.

Show up when your friend is feeling down.

Be there.

Be available. Not just physically, but emotionally.

Be consistent.

Show up. It’s hard to show up sometimes.

We don’t always feel like showing up.

Feelings get in the way of a LOT of things.

That’s why in order to have your own business, you’ve got to be able to push past the feelings. Because if you don’t feel like working that day, and your feelings are telling you to stay in bed and don’t pick up your phone, nobody is there to keep you accountable. You aren’t going to get paid.

Not only that, but thoughts of rejection, purposelessness and failure may begin to flood your mind. TBH that probably happens to most of us on a regular basis. But we MUST choose to push past that.

Reaching out to people is a hard task if you are in network marketing. It can be daunting. The possibility of rejection is one out of two. 50%. And the “no”‘s will come. Oh, will they come. This fact makes having a strong mental game all the more important.

It’s all about where you choose to put your focus.

Today, I choose to focus on my blessings and goals: I’ve come a LONG way and still have a long way to go. But it’s the daily choices that we make that our lives consist of. Along the way I choose to remember these things:

  1. It’s a privilege to be able to wake up and work from my house.
  2. Show up daily and success is guaranteed.
  3. Seeds take time to grow; scatter many.
  4. The more rejections, the closer I am to a “yes”.
  5. Trust God and move in faith.

 

So today, I’m going to show up. I’m going to stay positive. I’m going to rise above circumstance and keep my eye on the prize. I’m going to move in faith. Moving is faith in action. It’s time to act.

Do you have a call to action?

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Ps. Do you have any hair or skin care goals that I can help you reach? I vend healing hair products to combat dryness, frizziness, breakage, scalp issues, oiliness, dandruff, thinning, balding… or if you just want healthier, longer hair. COMMENT BELOW!

xxx

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V