Remember your Joy

The other day I was upstairs getting my 4 year-old son Elijah ready for school.  As we headed downstairs he says, "Mummy, let's go down like this!" and he proceeds to get on his bottom, sit at the top of the stairs and slide down one bumpy step at a time. 

He laughs so loudly and looks back at me, encouraging me, "Mummy c'mon!!! This is soooooooooooo fun!"

So realizing that this is one of moments I need to just soak up, I get on my bottom and start my bumpy descent down the carpeted steps of our humble little home.

And oh what joy I found!!!

Pure laughter filled our stairway corridor as we bounced from step to step.

"I'm gonna win Mummy!!!"

"Looks like you are son!!!", I replied.

"You betta hurry Mummy!!!"

"I'm hurrying son!!!"

As I reach the bottom of the steps, clearly in second place, I am greeted with the open arms of the most precious motherly blessing I've been given. 

Elijah hugs me so hard, gives me this big kiss on my cheek and says, "Good job Mummy! You didn't win but you still did good!"

I cry out with laughter and respond, "You're right, I didn't win but it's all good son!"

So what's my point?

My point is in the midst of life's trials, we might better find ourselves focusing on the good things, the joyful situation in our lives.  God's Word says to "think on those things which are good and pure".  We even find encouragement to "rejoice in the day" and count everything we go through, "Joy".

While at the top of the stairs, my mind was focused on the tasks at hand: getting E to school, the bills, my work day, my business, my sick aunt, my sick friend. 

And those things were still there once I arrived at the bottom of those stairs.  However...

...making the choice to focus on the joy, the blessings in my life, I was once again reminded that everythings gonna be all right and though I may not win, it's all good!

It's all good because God's mercies are new in our lives every day.
It's all good because I'm still alive, I'm still able to breathe.
I've got a glass that's half full and though I am in the midst of some rough situations, God will never leave or forsake me.
He's not brought me to this valley only to leave me but he's there to bring me through it and get me to the other side.

And you should know today that those are your promises too!

So today I compel you Gurls, to make the choice to be joyful.

You'll be glad you did!

Go For What You Know!

Good Day You Amazing Gurl!

Just want to encourage you today to follow your dreams...go for what you know!

As there are times in our lives when you just know that you know that you know that you've got to do that thing in your heart.  Follow the vision you see...make that dream come true.

So today I am believing with you that it's gonna come to pass.

Make the plans and write them down.

Keep pressing toward the goal.

Know that there may be obstacles but as you overcome each one, it'll make you stronger!

You can do it.

It's your time.

You have been called to do great things!

You are Aaaaahhhmazing so GO FOR WHAT YOU KNOW!!!

Love ya'

LashGurl Linda Jo

You are an aaaaahhhmazing Gurl!

So here I sit, typing my first blog entry ever.  Hmmmm...what do I say?  Rather, how do put into words what's in my heart to say?  So many things racing through my head and heart. 

And so I pause....

my fingers can't seem to move over the keyboard as my brain cannot seem to form one single thought.

LOL!  This is a surprise to those who know me as I rarely am out of words or without comment.

Another pause...I smile...boy, this is harder than I thought.

OK, here goes. 

Today was one of those days when I saw a manifestation of my prayers.  I experienced God's grace, mercy, peace and promises as the vision regarding this thing came to fruition.  I walked in the thing I've been dreaming...seeing...knowing,

WOW!!!!!

So I am overjoyed, overwhelmed, thankful and excited.  So overjoyed, overwhelmed, thankful and excited I am beginning to cry.  For truly God has been so faithful.  It's incredible.  Truly, my cup runneth over.  And all the while during this faith-walk I kept hearing "you're amazing" in my spirit.  That Bruno Mars song comes to mind.  It's just so perfect as it creates this feeling of I can do anything and then I think of the scriptures and I'm told that I can, in fact, do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.  So I keep going, I keep pushing & pressing and moving to a place I know because I have seen it in my dreams.  I struggle, I am blessed, God makes a way out of no way, makes my crooked paths straight.  I keep acknowledging Him in all my ways and He keeps making a way.  I experience victory one minute and face two set-backs the next minute.  I'm told by dreamkillers that it's never gonna happen and I'm blessed by my faith-filled friends who tell me God's got me.  I excel as my awesome husband looks at me in a way only he can and tells me that he loves me and I can do this.  I weep as I look at my son and know that God's promises are not only for me, but for him, his children and his children's children.  I laugh as my son say's, "Mommy, why so serious?".  I thank my God in Heaven as God speaks through my son when he throws his little arms around me, looks me straight in the eye and says, "Mommy, I love you".

So much at stake.

I just want God's perfect will for my life.

I'm tired.  I've been beat down.  I've been betrayed, lied upon and kicked in the gut.

But then I remember God's promises.

I am an overcomer.  I am victorious.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  God's got a prospering, good plan for me.  I am blessed coming in.  Blessed going out.  I am the head and not the tail.  I am the lender and not the borrower.  I am loved.

I win.

I am walking in the vision.

I am seeking His kingdom and all His righteousness and He has openly rewarded me on this day.

I am LashGurl LindaJo.

And so I get to today, through today and can barely breathe as my heart is filled with such thankfulness and gratefulness in this moment.

I pause.

So much again to say.  But I will stop......in a minute....LOL.

I am His light.  I have been called to love and serve others.  It is my most sincere heart's desire to hear my Father in Heaven say "Well done my good and faithful servant".  I am an exhorter.  I want to motivate, encourage and be a vessel which God utilizes to bless others.

And so God has said OK.  I'll bless you with a vehicle to do just that.

Today I rejoice in being the owner of The LashGurl Company with a salon in beautiful downtown Rochester Michigan.  I am blessed to do something I love that blesses others.  Tomorrow I will introduce you to The LashGurl Company in detail.  You can go today to my website  http://www.thelashgurlcompany.com/ if you'd like more information now.  But here's what I want you to walk away with right now.

Know that you are awesome.  Know that you are uniquely wonderful, precious and beautiful.  Know that God created you for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill.  Know that others are depending on you walking out your purpose.  Know that you are fearfully and wonderfuly made.  Know that you can do it!  Know that you are worthy of doing it! 

Know that you are an aaaaahhhmazing Gurl!