The Responsibility of Vision Followers

A statement made Sunday about the guest speaker Pastor Eddie Jasper, for my church's 125th Anniversary..."He's not a dream chaser, but a vision follower." - Dr. Lanelle Pickett Sr.

That has stuck with me since. Stop chasing dreams, but follow the vision that God has for your life. I've accepted that and pushed it deep into my soul. I've had the same dream every morning since then. My grandmother always said that when you dream something back to back, it's God's vision.

My heart, hands and hope are going to have an impact on this world. I need to accept that it's going to be in ways that terrify me. I need to accept my responsibility in taking the right faith-focused steps to get there. I also need to trust that God has laid out all that I need to protect, strengthen and propel me to the completion of His vision for my life. I need to focus on the end result being giving Him the honor and the glory.

I need to wake up and I want to share three key points that will help me stop dreaming and live the reality that God has for me:

1. Today is the only day I have control over. Yesterday was full of opportunities, chances, mistakes, and/or victories. Tomorrow is full of hope, but not promised. I need to walk in every step with the crucial awareness that it will impact how I walk should the Lord grant me another day. Not out of fear, not out of pleasing others, but out of committed devotion to reaching a goal, setting a standard and letting my light shine so the world can see Jesus a little more clearly.

2. Don't think. Know. I don't think  I know I have a relationship with the Lord, just like I don't think that I have ten fingers and toes. I know it. I know that I am not tapping into my full potential of awesome and it's because I'm not tapping into the full source. I know I am here to make a difference and I know that because I believe in a living savior that did.

3. Don't compromise the vision. I love making people feel good. I love nurturing sad hearts and helping people find a reason to smile. I cannot make that a priority over the vision that God has given me. He has allowed me to see certain things and not everyone is meant to understand or even see it or the decisions I make, the same way. My innate desire to make those people happy can be the hindrance that prevents a breakthrough. I can no longer allow that. Stop looking through other people's glasses to see your own dream. It will never come into focus.

What will it take for you to wake up and live right now, live hard and live victoriously? Live life big!


Do Life Big by Jamie Grace

3 Reasons My Summer Rocked...but I can't wait for Fall

I live in Florida which is proverbially warm year round and has no transitions of four seasons, but two. Wet and Humid. So, when I know the colors on the leaves are changing, falling and making that irresistible crunch sound - I am ready for it. I'm ready for the cooler weather, the holiday season, and the fashionable infinity scarves. Most importantly, in tune to the changing of the seasons in weather, there are changing of seasons in my life.

This past summer, some UH-MAZING things happened to me. Here's three of them!

#1. I traveled to Switzerland. I spent two days in Geneva for a business trip (see #2). During this business trip, my colleagues surprised me during our dinner on Lake Geneva with a "death by chocolate" cake of decadence. I was moved, I was elated, I was in Geneva!! I only obtained my passport in January of this year and this was my second European trip in three months. London in April, Geneva in June...and on my birthday. Pretty fab!

#2 I was in Geneva as part of a international steering committee put together to develop a  needs assessment tool to help identify a woman's individual care needs and facilitate improved discussions with their healthcare providers. I have personal hopes that this will empower women, their families and their treatment plan team to work together for the best chance to abundant living. This steering committee is assembled with some of the most brilliant minds I've ever met from International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, NAM/aidsmap, and women throughout the global HIV community. I gained more insights and inspirations into what I want to do with my career in Human Services by listening to what is going on with women living with HIV in countries like Poland, Russia, Romania, Spain, and Australia. I want to make a difference and I know I will make an impact on the world - especially with awesome opportunities to work with people like the ones on this committee. Helping others live their best life makes me love mine even more. Which is why I need to keep pressing towards this degree. 

#3 What capped this summer off and has me completely comfortable with the awesome that is the favor of God is that my family and I finally finished building our home with Habitat for Humanity. Three bedrooms, one bath, a lawn, a laundry room, hardwood laminate floors (easy clean!), and it's OURS! We own a home! We built our house! It's an amazing feeling that I honestly cannot describe. Maybe the photos from our house dedication will convey my joy. 

Now that Fall is approaching more noticeably in other states, I am eager to make my home feel like the best parts of the season. Warm color wreaths, scents of pine, spice (not pumpkin), apples throughout the house and preparation for Thanksgiving is just around the corner. These are a few of my favorite things!

So, tell me...what's yours? Are you ready for the Fall or are you wishing you could hold Summer at ransom to get a few more trips to the pool or wear your favorite summer mani/pedi a little longer? What are you favorite things that help transition the season? Do you have any tips on how to make a new home feel more holiday festive? Let me know!