Stock-take .. you constantly have to Do It !

December is here ! I am excited!!  'Just like that' we are at the last day of November 2014! I can imagine Christmas carols, holiday planning, loads of family time and food just to mention a few are the happy things some of us are looking forward to. However my new look on life has me understanding that this life is no small deal, it is serious business that should not just be left to chance. We are at what I would call, the last piece of the puzzle that launches us into 2015 and I believe that if you haven't done it yet that this is the time to take stock of your 2014. That is: Size it up, Analyse it, Evaluate it, Make an appraisal, Look critically at your year.

I can only imagine what kind of journey it's been for you. In this life, we all face ups and downs and yes there are similarities but generally we are all experiencing different life experiences. Maybe it has been a good, dare I say wonderful year for you with a couple of bumpy rides here and there but nothing you couldn't handle, maybe its been a tough one but there were some rainbows in the horizon that have left you are hopeful about the aftermath, or maybe it's actually been one dark gloomy bad thing after another for you and you are lost in confusion and pain or maybe it's been something else.

For you that has had a great year, my hope is that this feeling is not based on the external circumstances, the ones you ultimately have no control over and if they swung in a different direction, that you would still be able to say that it has been a wonderful year.

For you that is hopeful despite the challenges in your life or for you that is lost in despair and anger and unhappiness or for you that I may not have described your current situation, I write this post today to share lesson I am still learning. Sometimes I get it, other times I have got to run to the Father so He can refresh me before I lose my way.

As a believer, it is cemented in my heart that my life's beginning and end is in God's hands. He is the author of my life and in my journey while on earth it is important for me to find my purpose, but it is MOST important to me to find God's purpose for me life life and that mine aligns with His.

If your life right now is guided by the 'good' people and things in it. God forbid but what happens if these people turn out to not be who you have always thought they were? or sadly, that they are not with you any more? or if you lose the things that sustain you that you have put your hope in, does your aspect on life change. I would sure hope not.

For you that is struggling to see the point of your life right now, for you who is downcast and burdened, and doubtful and scared or you who has even given up or gotten desperate and are doing whatever feels like the only way to fix this despite it being against your beliefs and values and truths. I encourage you to focus on God your father and not the present circumstances of your life. To not allow the discouragement to win and to begin to encourage yourself in His word and truths for He is not a man that He should lie. If only you trust and keep trusting Him and His process and His timing.

He doesn't sleep and maybe it may look like your life is moving from bad to worse, but now more that ever, you should be holding tight to God, this is when you need not lose your grip on Him. Your breakthrough will come. I don't know when, I don't know how but God is not confused and if you hang in there, when it does happen, it will all make sense.

It is not easy I know, but the good things never are! Think and believe only positive thoughts about your life, spend time in the bible and see all that God says you are, begin to believe it. Begin to speak life into your life! God says in Jeremiah 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Trust the author of your life.

To you that is hopeful despite it all, I commend you for not looking at or allowing your current circumstances and setbacks to steal your joy. May the joy of the Lord be and always continue to be your strength and may you always put your hope and trust in Him for all concerning your life. Remember that it is important that we always think positive thoughts of hope, faith and victory! We are more than conquerors, we are overcomer's ! If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8: 31, 37. 

In Jeremiah 1:5 we read " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" and in Psalm 139:13 - 18 " For you created my innermost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. "

These verses serve to remind me about how truly unique I am, how special I am in God's eyes, I am not a mistake. I am not a statistic. My life is not locked down to what it presently looks like. I am not defined by my present situation, nothing and noone but only what God says about me defines me, may I always stay believing in this truth. And if you don't, may you also believe in this because His good news is for you too!

I have learnt a lot in this past year about the power of declaration and purposing to speak positive, to speak life. I found two posts of mine from 2013.

One just before Christmas said : My best days are ahead of me. As we close 2013, I celebrate my future perfect !! I am declaring my future perfect in 2014! 

The other at the end went : #foodforthought - If you didn't learn the lessons you were meant to learn in 2013, 2014 will be an even harder year. My story ain't done yet.

Some of you may already know from having read my first blog post and most especially my first testimony in my second blog post that my life and 2014 was a struggle, but I know that getting to where and who I am at the end of this year did not happen by chance. Positivity was thought and was declared even when all that I was looked nothing like things I said I was or would be, and then I began the work needed to become these declarations. I strongly believe that this works in all areas of our lives. From our walk with God, to our everyday lives, to our relationships, our jobs and careers, our hopes and dreams, the list goes on, but the principle still works.

I love a quote that says " Life isn't happening to you ; life is responding to you . " 

Photo : Google Images

I urge you not to simply just stumble into 2015 and hope it will just work out, you need to be in control of it with God's guidance of course. It is very true what they say, failing to plan is simply planning to fail. Take stock of your year (size it up, analyse it, evaluate it, make an appraisal, look critically at your 2014) in all aspects of your life, that is. In my opinion top of that list has got to be your Spirituality, your relationship with God and your saviour Jesus. Does it exist? and If it does, is it growing?  And in all other areas of your life, your job or school or business, your relationships, your habits, your choices, your life! Begin to think about what it is about you that should already be but is not and what do you need to start doing to get it? What it is about you that should not be and what do you need to start doing to get it out? What about your life needs to leave and what needs to come in to transform you into a better person? What is it that you started or set out to do but lost track of as the year progressed ? Critically think and then take action! Begin now, if you haven't yet. Begin learning the lessons in 2014 to see you through 2015 as a victor, not just a survivor. Most importantly make it habit to have self assessments every so often throughout the course of the year, not just at the end or at the beginning. Find a pattern that works for you and stick to it!

Life is about journeys and seasons and changes. Learn the lessons for each season of your life before the next shows up so that you are ready or wont have a difficult time. Just like school, we only moved onto the next class after passing the tests. Life lessons and tests can never ever be avoided, they will always keep happening. Yes maybe you may be able to  'cheat the system' but this will only last so long and you don't want to fall flat on your face from way up there, the fall and impact will be worse. Begin and trust the process, respect the principle of time and utilize it fully. Stop trying to rush your life, true greatness takes time.

Speak life! Speak life into your life and all those in your life and even beyond. Stay on the positivity lane. Keep exercising thinking and saying only positive matter. Proverbs 23:7(KJV) - As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Declare, Declare, Declare! - start right now by saying these words aloud - I am declaring my future perfect in 2015! Surely goodness and love with follow me all the days of my life. 

Finally, never lose your hope in God. No matter what happens in your life, keep praising and giving thanks to Him. He has never forgotten you or left your side. I Thessalonians 5:18  says Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

The message below I received in a forward, I am not aware who the author is, but I really like it.

“Have a good day!” or “Have a good one!” We've all heard these words at some time from either strangers or those we know.
What does a good day look like? Is it a day with sunshine and no rain? Calm and no wind? Level roads and no hills? Laughter and no tears? Opportunities and no adversity? Peace and no conflict? Advancement and no setbacks? Excitement and no disappointment?
What does a good day really look like?
A GOOD Day Has GOD in it! God in your heart; God in your day; God in your circumstances; God in your valleys; God in your mountain tops; God in your joys; God in your sorrows; God in your going out; God in your coming in; God in your trials; God in your triumphs; God in your need; God in your supply; God in your deserts; God in your fruitful fields!
Have a “Good Day!”
There is only One Who is good [perfectly and essentially]—God. Matthew 19:17 AMP

A new year is upon us, and by God's grace, mercy and will, may we and all who are ours make it to and beyond the new year.

Have a blessed last piece of 2014! I believe it so for you, do you?

Love, Ree

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Ps: If you are ever in Nairobi and are looking for a church family to visit with, during your short or long stay. My church Eagle's Faith Christian Centre ( EFCC) would be privileged to host you! OR if you live in Nairobi and are looking for a church family or if you simply want to visit and send our love back to your home church family, get in touch with me for directions, or Get Directions Here  !

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