Help, I need Balance!

I have learned on this journey that life is really one thing after another. The world around us is constantly changing, our bodies are constantly changing, our children are constantly changing…one day we are up, the next we are down. We go to church, we go to work, we go to school. We drive in our cars or we get on the bus. After school activities, church activities, hobbies…the day goes on and so does life.

Me, I’m a wife, mom of 2, Elder in the church, attend Bible College full time, President of Now Faith Int’l Ministries, avid reader, writing my first book…shall I continue?! We all have so much on our plate at times. So I decided to write my view on BALANCE.

I’ve heard so many ways on how to balance. Get a calendar. Get an iPhone or blackberry, take notes, etc. So, In order to get this whole balance thing down-packed I begin asking myself questions like how much time should I devote to my children each day? How many hours in the office are too much? What priority is my spiritual practice and how many minutes/hours should I devote to it each day? After all that how much time is left to prioritize ME? However, the more contracted I became about achieving my ideal “balance quotient” the more stressed I became.

I finally realized, I’m missing the point. Balance is not totally about how many clear notes I’ve taken or whether my assistant has set up my calendar correctly. Balance is an internal state of being. Our minds have been conditioned to think some crazy thoughts and some we think unconsciously. Let’s let go of the stories we have bought into.

“Successful business women put their jobs first.”
“Good mothers don’t work this many hours.”
“Troubled children happen when marriages fall apart.”
“Spiritual people spend one hour meditating each day.”

Forget what the world is saying! You see, balance is not about doing less. Balance and harmony are achieved when you are fully present with whatever you are doing. Quit holding yourself hostage for not being at home with your children. For not committing to that project at work. Make the choice to be fully present with whatever is at hand. Balance comes when you are fully in the moment of what you are doing!!! What a balanced life ultimately offers all of us is the ability to look soberly at our circumstance as well as to where we are headed. Balance tells us that we are working too hard, or neglecting loved ones, or that we are spending too much time and resources on those who don’t want to help themselves. A balanced person looks at the dashboard of his or her life where the physical, emotional, spiritual and relational gauges tell a complete story.

Recently, I did a 40day fast and consecration and what I discovered was that my greatest balance comes when I honor my inner divinity to the greatest degree. When I allow my life to be my meditation. The simple act of embracing everything as it unfolds marks the eradication of stress and moves me into complete balance and harmony.

Lastly, I’ve learned how to say NO, MAYBE NEXT TIME and simply I’M NOT INTERESTED!

A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1

Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good. Proverbs 20:23


Have Faith,
Rev. Bert
Hebrews 11:6

"PUSHING DAISIES"

I know you are probably thinking what in the world is pushing daisies? Truly, I had some other things that the Lord has been speaking about but I knew that THIS post was tailor made for THIS day! There is not a lot to share on today but I want to encourage you to have Faith, Believe, Pray and PUSH!

Certainly, things get rough. Temptations arise. Flesh doesn’t want to back down. The grass looks greener on the other side. You may have no more fight left in you. BUT GOD says Push! God said to me, it’s not hard when you are on my team. If you follow me it’s like Pushing Daisies!

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "you have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this?" "Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough." That's what he planned to do, but decided to PRAY. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to PUSH against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to simply PUSH.

And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains. All God need is your servant hood at heart and your obedience…PUSH!

Yep, I got really tingly on the inside. I’ve been praying, I’ve believed and I’ve been obedient. Just like God said, “serving him has been as easy, as lovely and as aroma-filled as Pushing Daisies!

Romans 8:26-28 MSG Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Have the God kind of Faith,
Rev. Bert
Hebrews 11:6

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL...

OKAY, OKAY I admit! I spend a large amount of time looking in the mirror! That’s because I’ve learned that self-image is key. And another thing. When no one else I can hear my mentor yelling through the phone, “Bert, You Attract that which you Reflect!” After hearing men and women complain for years about the girlfriends and boyfriends they attract, complain about the type of jobs they secure, and the people that crowd the gist of their space I have now adopted the same motto. Ladies and Gentleman…“You attract that which you Reflect!” Why? Because life is a big mirror and until we have the full knowledge and revelation of the person we see in the mirror then we will not set a standard or an expectation for those we allow in our space. Which in turn leaves room for the leaches, greedy, needy, jealous, competitive, insensitive folk that we could really avoid from jumpstart.

Let me say that in the past, I’ve not been strong in myself and have shown a slightly different face to different people because I didn’t understand the Power of the person I saw in the mirror. Men and Women you must remind yourself that you are STRONG & POWERFUL! We become strong in ourselves, regardless of external circumstances. We shine with all of our magnificent colors blazing strong, unafraid of being judged or misunderstood, because we know who we are.

The question was asked of me…Who are you, really?

Well, let me start before answering that question by clearing up that my journey has been one that has been full of fun, depression, love, excitement, tragedy, joy, good times, along with good and bad intentions and motives from people who came into my life. I have wronged many people, and I have also run away and denied dealing with things in my life I had to clean up. Through it all the only constant was ME, how I dealt with things, and what I gleaned from what I experienced. Every single time I dealt with something about myself, I saw the need or possibility to better myself to be a better vessel in my life for ME first, and then for others. I simply had to take responsibility for my life and my actions. Was I going to let anything I was dealing with break me or was it going to make me?

This is why knowing yourself is one of the keys to life. It’s the key to each spiritual journey. To get to know our true selves in this human experience requires digging deep rather than listening to how others define us based on their reflections. It means coming to a place where we can say, “I know who I am without the need for approval or validation.” It fully believes in your true self – your non ego self, so that you get to live your life with integrity and the high standards of your loving soul. And so I ask you the question, WHAT IS YOUR MIRROR REFLECTING?
There is no doubt in my mind that I am beautiful, royal, confidant and My faith says that I am perfect and whole in Christ Jesus because He created me and you looking exactly the way He wanted. He gave us everything we need and will surely give opportunity for our gifts and talents to be used for His glory! There is no need for competition.

People, it is time for us to claim our authentic self and live life to our fullest potential. To be authentic means to find the key to happiness and success within one’s self, not within the society that you live in. You must think for yourself and create your own thoughts, needs and desires.
When you look in the mirror where do you see yourself? How do you see yourself? Have you done an internal investigation to assure that you are operating with pure motives?

I found that the Mirror which is really life is only producing that which you project. Each choice and decision you make today will reflect your tomorrow. Believe in yourself. Love yourself. Enjoy yourself. Invest in yourself and God will continue to develop the person you see in the mirror. Phillipians 1:6 says "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Have Faith,
Rev. Bert
Hebrews 11:6

Friends, how many of us have them?!

The conventional wisdom is that we choose friends because of who they are. But it turns out that we actually love them because of the way they support who we are.
One of my best friends, Leila, and I met many moons ago. However, after traveling by bus and train to college together each morning, sharing in childhood stories, crying over break-ups, laughing at our stupidity and counseling each other in difficult times, a true friendship was born.

When people are asked, “What gives meaning to your life?” Some may answer money or children but my answer is Friendship. After hearing the term too many times and loosely used in 2011, BFF/Bestie…I thought I’d make this my first topic of the New Year.

There have been too many people that I have called ‘friend’ and they have too many times stabbed me in the back, betrayed me, not supported me, etc. Initially, my heart was broken. I couldn’t understand why if I was honest, if I was a friend, if I was supportive, if I went out of my way then why couldn’t things be reciprocated. I didn’t know then what I know now, God strategically places people and remove people from our lives and sometimes loving those you once called ‘friend’ from a distance is the best thing that could have ever happened to you!

As I continue to mature on this journey God continually shows me and speaks to me about the importance of true and authentic friendships and relationships. The Lord spoke to me in the early part of 2010. He said “Don’t base what friends have said, done or shown you in the past and allow that to hinder you from receiving the new destiny-driven Friendships.” What God said to me instantly removed my heart of stone and replaced itself with a sensitive heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Today I know for sure and see clearly that Friendship is a blessing and a friend is the channel through whom great emotional, spiritual, and sometimes even physical blessings flow.
I can remember in 2002 Leila helped me through one of my most difficult times. I remember not wanting to eat or come outside but she said to me, “the girl I know is strong. The girl I know is ambitious. The girl I know is a conqueror!” In other words she encouraged me when I couldn’t even mumble a word.

What are Friends?
Friends can cheer us when we’re sorrowful or depressed. Friends can challenge us when we allow ourselves to get beyond our reasonable boundaries. Friends can motivate us when we’re ready to give in, and they can provide for us when life falls apart. They are there when all is well, and we want someone with whom to share life’s pleasant and memorable moments. We often just want them around to have a good time, to laugh, to act silly; to enjoy some mutually liked activity
It is safe to say that when God created the world and all the majestic things in it, when he streaked the heavens with radiant color and the earth with grand mountains and awe-inspiring canyons, when he painted the plains with waving grasses and erected noble forests of towering trees, he outdid it all by creating Friends.
Why not take a moment or two and thank someone today for being a friend to you?

As we move into 2012 we must assure that those that latch on to us and those that we just love to be around are the authentic persons and friends called to our life for 2012.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)

Have Faith,
Rev. Bert
Hebrews 11:6