Refresh Your "Press" !

In thinking about the progress I have made (and the lack thereof) thus far on a project I'm working on, this thought came to me: Refresh your "press". I have been "pressing in", giving it my all , to stay focused and complete the tasks at hand and although I am making progress, I feel I should be a lot further ahead.

I had been experiencing more tiredness than usual and the amount of distractions and spiritual attacks have seem to increase on every side. Since quiting is not an option for me, I have prayed and cried out to God to show me what it is I am to do:

Refresh your press!

Just as with the computer, we press the refresh button to "begin anew" with what ever it is we are working on, we are to do the same regarding our mind, body and soul: REFRESH. To refresh here means to; "make cool, clean, or to dump": "To become revived; reinvigorate".

Let me encourage you to take time to "refresh" yourself; take a look at your schedule and see if you have added in time for fun. Make sure you have added proper time to "sleep" and stick to the schedule. Without a clear, functioning mind, the work you do will not be your best effort, causing re-writes and unnecessary "do-overs".

Simply think about the traffic light and apply the same principles to help you refresh:
RED = STOP and eat, have some balanced,"timed" fun, and sleep.

YELLOW = Slow Down and concentrate on one thing at a time. Focus your attention on what you are working on and stay calm, doing your very best and leaving the rest until the next appointed time. DUMP THE GUILT! Instead of beating yourself up for not having completed "that" or not having done it "this way", ask God to show you what you are to take away from the situation. Ask how you are to apply it to your life (your God-given purpose).

GREEN= GO! Keep moving forward. After your allotted time of rest and balanced fun get back into motion and keep flowing. Write out and review your time schedule and set your sail to stay on course until it is time to "dock" for the evening.

To press in, exerting steady weight or force against; to bear down; to apply steady force, is a good and necessary thing, in the appointed time and in the right manner.

Provers 24:5 tells us "A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength". The Message translation breaks it down in this way:
"It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day.
Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel."

Take this counsel today and take time to "refresh your press".

Be IN courage and go onward to your destiny!!


United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle

Words of Wisdom To Begin 2010

Take this to heart and apply daily to your mind and your actions,
so that in 2010 you will definitely win!!

Proverbs 3:5-12 (The Message)

5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
don't sulk under his loving correction.
It's the child he loves that God corrects;
a father's delight is behind all this.

Be IN Courage!

Linda Michelle

It's A New SEASON!! Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year! 2010! WOW! Ready or not, here it is.

I say, decree and declare, that we are ready, willing and fully surrendered to ALL that God has prepared for us to do, see, experience and receive. What do YOU say???

I say, decree and declare, that this is a NEW SEASON of greater grace experienced; greater faith manifested; greater wisdom conceived; greater wealth - in money and in mind! What do YOU say???

I say, decree and declare, that FULL purpose is manifested in all we are assigned to do, and we do it through the power of the Holy Spirit. What do YOU say???

Speak it: believe what you say, do what you believe and give thanks for what you see manifested because of it - even before you see it!

2010 SEASON:
S = stay grounded in the presence and peace of God's love
E = eat right, enjoy the moments, elevate your perspective and exam your past only to fortify your future.
A = applaud yourself for not quitting, after you raise from your knees praising God for the mercy and grace He empowered you with.
S = Stop and REST awhile. HEAR the VOICE of God speaking to your heart and OBEY.
O = OBEY! Observe; operate in wisdom!
N = NO compromise! Name the promise and prepare to receive it!

In Victory,
Be IN courage,

Linda Michelle

Birthday Card from my Mama

I received a beautiful birthday card from my precious mama, which I was not able to read until I arrived home, 2 days after my birthday (being caught up in storms, cancellations and crowded airports). She gave birth to me one Christmas afternoon, not so very long ago :) She is (and my dad was) truly a precious gift to me; for they surrendered and allowed God to flow my life through their loins. For this I am truly grateful.

The experience of my 2009 birthday will forever be marked with the memory of me being stretched in my faith, growing and advancing into a new level of glory. For as much as my mama loves (and my daddy loved me before his passing), my Heavenly Father loves me even more. For as much as my mom wanted to help me get home for my birthday, she could not. Even if she had all the money in the world, possessed tremendous influence and power and had her own private jet plane, it still would have done no good, for airport operations were shut down because of the stormie weather. But God's grace was still in full operation throughout my entire 2 day ordeal! God's promises are true and His love is more intense than anything we can see or feel. He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you, regardless of the storm or situation you are in.

Always remember who you are: You are someones precious baby girl - all grown up now, but yet and still a beloved daughter. If your parents did not love you as you deserved or as was ordained, KNOW THAT YOU ARE STILL LOVED AND ADORED; A BELOVED DAUGHTER OF A LOVING FATHER WHOSE LOVE WILL NEVER FAIL. Read this wonderful poem by the anointed and gifted writer Emily Matthews and receive it as if it were sent directly to you, from your Abba Father. Know that it is not a coincidence that you are reading this. Know that it is not a coincidence that you have experienced all that you have. Know that you are being loved - supernaturally - at this very moment in time.

"If" for Daughters

-------------------------------------

If you can value truth
above approval,
and friendship over beauty,
wealth,or fame,
If you can share your gifts
and talents wisely,
leaving someone better off
than when you came...

If you find happiness
in simple pleasures
If you have faith to keep right on believing
in miracles that no one can explain,
If you look until you see the good in others
and keep your spirit honest, true, and free,
Then you'll be, not just happy and successful,
but the woman only you
were meant yo be.

If you could see
all the flowers in the world,
if you could hear
all the laughter in the universe,
if you could make all the dreams
that ever were wished come true,
then you would know
a little part of the joy
of having and loving
a daughter like you..


Emily Matthews

__________________

Be IN courage, my precious sister.

With love,

Linda Michelle

5 Special Gifts to Yourself: Gift 5 - Friday Dec 25 09

Gift 5 - Simply Believe and Receive.
Rest in the promises of truth and love!

The Greatest Gift

Into this world Jesus came
Both man and God, one in the same
He came to earth so He could save
All of us sinners who couldn't be have
But He had to be strong and He had to be brave
Cause they whipped and beat Him worse than a slave
Then on the cross, His life he gave
But on the third day, He rose from the grave
He went to Heaven where he lives today
And if you believe these words I say
Then get on your knees and start to pray
Let Him in your heart to show you the way
If you confess your sin and start to believe
Then His free Gift of Life you shall receive
And then He will send His Spirit to you
To comfort your pain and guide you through
All the trials and troubles that come each day
Cause in your heart, forever he will stay
And when your life comes to it's end
Straight to Heaven your soul will ascend.

- By Michael J. Hatcher, Jr.

(This poem can be used for free as long as the name of the author is included and the author is
given credit. If the poem is published online, please include a link to this post.
http://freepoemsonline.blogspot.com/)


Be In Courage!
With love,
Linda Michelle

5 Special Gifts to Yourself: Gift 4 - Thursday 24 Dec 09

Gift 4:
ALLOW YOURSELF TO RELAX AND TO BE UNIQUELY YOU.

A Creed to Live By

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,
It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people deem important,
Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart
Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give
Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,
It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks,
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,
And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your Dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope.
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget where you've been,
But also know where you're going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

Author Unknown


Be IN Courage,
With love,
Linda Michelle

5 Special Gifts to Yourself: Gift 3 - Wednesday 23 Dec 09

To an Extraordinary Person... YOU!!

Extraordinary people...

Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.

—Robertson Davies.


Be IN Courage!
With love,
Linda Michelle