The Drop Zone

Often I wonder about God’s will and how His will lines up with our lives. He gave us the ability to make choices but if we choose incorrectly then our wills are not lined up with His. I had to grow to understand that God knows what our choices will be even before we make them but just because he knows them doesn’t mean he made us make that decision. He gave us a little thing called “Free Will”. He didn’t create us to be robots but individuals who freely praise and seek Him.

When our choices are line up with His will then we are where my pastor calls “The Drop Zone”. In the bible God used the ravens to feed his servant (1Kings17; 4). Do you know what kind of bird the raven is? He is not one known to share his food but when God uses someone (and we are obedient to his will…thus inline with His will) it doesn’t matter what their tendencies are He can take the lowliness creature (the most unlikely person) and use them to achieve the goal of blessing you! Now isn’t that amazing…even our enemies become our foot stools! The “Drop Zone” is that special place where God drop our blessings on us. The place were He can open up the windows of heaven and the blessing can flow freely down on us. Take a look at your life and determine if you are indeed in the “drop zone”. Are you in a relationship that is not flourishing? If so you aren’t in the drop zone. Your mate could be around the corner but because you continue to force something that obviously is not fitting you miss your blessing…or delay them. Are you at a job were you don’t feel fulfilled? If so you may not be in the drop zone. That promotion or peace of mind could be right around the corner but because you are afraid to step out on faith you are missing your blessing. If you aren’t in that divine place were the blessings He has stored for can fall on you freely then as the old people say you could be “blocking your blessings”. You move into your drop zone! Don’t let the ravens pass you by!

A Relationship Tune Up

When men use analogies many times they relate everything to cars. As women we may not understand that all the time but in some cases the car analogy works! Every few months you take your care in for a regular tune up, whether it is an oil change, rotating tires, changing break pads or air filters. If you don't do these simple maintenance tasks the cars longevity is compromised. If not regular maintenance you at least put gas in your car once or twice a week (even if it does cost you $4.00 a galloon). If you don't get gas then guess what? Your car won’t run.

I recently learned relationships need tune ups and or full ups just as often as a car does. Many times we get bogged down with our daily lives and the one person we are supposed to love unconditionally is put on the back burner. I never really understood what it meant for married couples to break up after many years of marriage because they “just grew apart”. I always wondered what it means to “grow apart”. After being married several years I now understand how easy it can be to "grow apart". But you don't have to let this happen...that's were "Tune Ups" come in place. Relationships need daily and monthly servicing just as your cars do. It’s very easy to let your lives grow in different directions. It’s very easy for you to take the one that is suppose to mean the most to you for granted. If you don’t handle this delicate relationship with care then as a car does without gas your relationship will stop running.

So here are a few tips to keep your relationship oiled up and running smooth:

Daily care:
Gas up your relationship: Say I love you daily. Stop for a kiss on the cheek, a wink of the eye, a simple compliment, take on your partners tasks for the day, go on a date, and stay up late talking, laugh with and at each other and most of all pray together…simple things to “SHOW” you care.

Long term care (some of these things require planning):

Tune up your relationship: Read a relationship book together (ex: The 5 Love Languages, Power of a Praying wife/Husband, Men are from Mars Women are from Venus)… attend a relationship conference, or plan a get away…with just the two of you. Remember a relationship is an active viable engine that needs a tune up every once in a while…pay attention to yours and don’t let it die!

Friends

Today I am hosting my version of Oprah's "Legends Ball". Unfortunately I won’t be giving away diamonds and John Legend won’t be serenading us but it will be special nonetheless. The legends in my life aren't ones you will see on television or on a magazine cover but the individuals I call "friends". About 8 months ago I had knee surgery. This was no walk-in-the-park knee surgery. For 5-months after the surgery I was unable to walk or drive. It was debilitating because I am known as a "busy bee". This was the hardest thing that I have had to experience in my life and trust me I have experience some things. God used this time to teach me to lean and depend on others...this is were my true friends came in. They were there cooking dinner, bringing food for me and my family, calling to check on me, coming by just to visit and most of all having unconditional love. The surprising thing is people I thought were close to me weren't there for me...people that I had just met within months came to my aide with no questions...it was amazing! Today looking back I feel so blessed and today I want to honor these individuals. Recently I saw the highly acclaimed movie “Sex and the City” this movie reminded me of what friends are and how they stand by your side thick or thin, good or bad…happy or sad! So if you have individuals in your life that meet the definition of “true friends” honor them in a special way…let them know how they have impacted your life. True friends are rare so if you have them in your life you are blessed!

New Paper Article

I am excited to write that the1st news paper article about me and the book was published today in the DFW Quick! It is an amazing feeling and I hope many books sells result from the article. The article took a spin on the book...it addressed the impact on weight on the single life. It was very interesting to talk about weight issues and insecurities from the single life prespective. I think if you aren't confident in who you are as a person whether a size zero or sixteen your dating life can be impacted negatively. The first step in being successful in anything you do is feeling confident in who you are as a person...on the inside and the outside. The persona you give off is like honey you can either attract bee's that will cutivate you and help you to grow or flies that will eat away everything until there is nothing left. So love yourself first and all that is good and intended for you will come your way!