Lord, Help Me Let Go!

Are you holding on to something you know you need to let go of? Is it a relationship gone bad, an unforgiving heart, a negative attitude, a wayward child, or some other issue that keeps you stressed out and emotionally drained? Whatever it is, it’s time to let go and let God!

Following are three reasons you should let go.

1. Letting go of the old makes room for the new. It’s a woman’s nature to hold on to things. Instead of letting it go, we believe we can fix it, make it better. We believe we can nurture it and change it. That’s our nature. That’s what we do. But know that there are some things you just can’t fix. And, God can’t and won’t use you until you let it go. “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

2. Letting go shows your dependency on God. Letting go implies, “Lord, I surrender all to you. I’m putting it in your capable, loving hands.” It’s easy to say you trust God. But, do you really trust Him? How many times have you given a burden or challenge to God and then took it back? If you really trust Him, you’ll take it to Him and leave it there! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

3. Letting go will give you peace of mind. Peace of mind can be described as the absence of mental and emotional stress or anxiety. It can be described as free from worry. It takes a lot of time, effort and energy to hold on to things you know you should let go of. The Scriptures assure you that you’ll have peace once you let it go. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Letting go isn’t always easy, and it’s certainly not something you can do all by yourself. God has given you a helper in life; His Holy Spirit, who can help you get to the place God wants you to be. When God gives you something to do, you can rest assured He’s already given you everything you need to get it done. If He’s asking you to let it go, by the power of His Holy Spirit, He’s already given you the strength you need to do it. Just say to Him, “Lord, help me let go!”

7 Ways to Upgrade Your Life

1. Upgrade your employment!
Are you passionate about the work you do? Does your job offer you the fulfillment you desire, want and need? If not, it's time for an employment upgrade. The economy is starting to rebound, so now could very well be the perfect time to start looking at alternative employment opportunities. Make a commitment to find the job that’s right for you and allows you to use your God-given gifts and talents. You deserve it. Don't settle for less!

2. Upgrade your health!
Good health is one of the most valuable things you can possess. This year, don’t skip the annual visit to the gynecologist. Make the appointment. And certainly don’t forget your mammogram. Also, choose better eating habits. When shopping for groceries, stay away from cans, boxes and other packaged goods that include ingredients with words like “modified,” “hydrogenated” and those you can’t pronounce. Eat more fresh fruits and veggies. Try cutting down on meat, especially red meat. Better yet, realize you don’t have to have it everyday. Skip a couple of days a week of eating meat. And by all means, exercise and drink plenty of water!

3. Upgrade your attitude!
An attitude upgrade is one of the best things you can do for yourself and others in the New Year. Throw away your negative attitude and upgrade to a new, positive attitude. Smile more. Laugh more. Hug more. Love more. Give more. Forgive more. Throw away your tiara and give up your position as a drama queen. Stop blaming others. Start being responsible. Stop holding grudges. Start letting go. A new attitude can mean a totally new you!

4. Upgrade your appearance!
What you look like on the outside can be a good indication of what’s happening on the inside. Do something different in 2011. Get a nice new hair-cut. Or, do something even more drastic and get rid of the perm. Go natural. Lots of ladies are doing it, including me. Get a couple of new mix and match outfits. But don’t spend a lot of money. Resale shops can be a great place to shop for nice, gently worn, fashionable outfits. This New Year, let your outward appearance say something awesome about you!

5. Upgrade your perception of yourself!
What you think about yourself can reflect to others and affect how they see you. If you think you can’t do it, others will think you can’t do it. If you think you have no value, others will think you have no value. If you think you’re not attractive, others will think the same. Instead of looking down on yourself, start looking up. See yourself on top of the world; flying high in life, reaching new heights, conquering all there is to conquer. Change that negative perception to a positive perception and watch your life change!

6. Upgrade your mind!
The best way to upgrade your mind is to start making an effort to slow down your thinking and live in the present moment. Your mind is the most overworked tool you own. You’re always thinking about something. Before you go to sleep at night, you’re thinking. When you wake up, you’re thinking. Your mind is either in the past or in the future. You’re thinking about what’s already happened, or you’re thinking about what’s going to happen. Even when someone is talking to you, instead of listening, you’re thinking about something that has nothing to do with the conversation. Stop thinking so much and take some time to come home to the present moment. Stop living in the past and in the future of your mind. The present moment is where life is truly happening.

7. Upgrade your spiritual life!
I went to a funeral on yesterday and as the casket was rolled down the aisle, I couldn’t help but think that one day I would be the one in the casket. Funerals have a way of making you realize just how short life is. They make you turn and take a look inward and ask yourself the question, “What’s really important in life?” Success, money, houses, cars, lavish vacations; in all honesty, when you look at the big picture, those things are really not that important. In 2011, upgrade your spiritual life by living the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “… Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Listen to my weekly radio broadcast Sundays 4-430pm on Houston's 100.7FM, or listen on the web at kkht.com. This Sunday, I will fully develop the topic, "7 Ways to Upgrade Your Life." Tune in!

Does the Church Need a Dress Code?

Low cut tops, halter tops, spandex, mini skirts, hip huggers, low riders. Sounds like the kind of attire you might see in a music video or nightclub. Wouldn't you agree?

There was a time when places like music videos and nightclubs were where you'd most likely find such attire. But not anymore. It's not uncommon to find the person sitting next to you on the pew at church wearing a blouse cut so low that it leaves half of her breasts exposed. Or perhaps the person sitting next to you on a Sunday morning has on a pair of spandex pants that leave nothing to the imagination. And don't mention the sister wearing the tight fitting mini skirt with the split in the side. No amount of tugging can cover her thighs. And what about the sister who came in late and sat in the pew directly in front of you. Her tight low rider hip hugging pants were so low, they exposed the thong she wore.

One of the greatest and fastest growing problems the church is facing today is the issue of women dressing inappropriately. And in order to solve the problem, it's going to take a collective effort.

There are those who would say, "It doesn't matter what I have on. It's what's in my heart that counts." The way we dress is a reflection of what's in our hearts, a reflection of our spiritual maturity, of where we are in our walk with the Lord.

Spiritual maturity is not something that happens overnight. It's a process that takes a lifetime. It may not always be realistic to expect a sister who is new in her relationship with the Lord to know all there is to know about living a holy life. It may take her some time to grow and develop the desire to trade in her spandex, mini skirt and low rider pants for more modest attire. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, she can get there. And if she's in a church with members who love her, they should have patience with her, teach her by example and share with her what the Scriptures teach about holy living.

Several things must take place before the problem of inappropriate dress can become less of a problem:

1. The preacher has to have the courage to teach it and preach it from the pulpit.
2. Seasoned Christian sisters must teach by example, dressing "in modest apparel."
3. Christian sisters must mature to a level of respect first to God and His Word, then to others.
4. Parents must start teaching children how to dress appropriately when they are still in the cradle.

Does the church need a dress code? The church already has a dress code. It just needs to be taught and lived. "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes" (I Timothy 2:9NIV).

Premenopause Anyone?

My premenopausal symptoms started visiting me at age 35. I remember being at my doctor's office. I think I cried during the entire appointment. While the nurse drew my blood, I cried. While I waited to see the doctor, I cried. I had no idea why I was crying. Crying had become a pretty common thing. I could be in the grocery store or anywhere and out of nowhere, the tears would come. When the doctor told me what he thought was going on, I remember asking, "Don't you think I'm a little too young for this?" His answer was, "When a woman turns 35, after that, don't be surprised at anything that happens." That provided absolutely no comfort for the deep depression, tears, mood swings, and insomnia I was experiencing at the time.

I'm long past 35 and menopause is not far away. The average age for menopause is somewhere around 50-51. But the symptoms can start way before. Here are some of the premenopausal symptoms you may experience: fatigue, depression, weight gain or loss, hair loss, anxiety, feelings of gloom and doom, heart palpitations, mood swings, irritability and sudden tears, hot flashes, headaches, memory loss, vertigo, light headedness, increase in allergies, incontinence, sleeplessness and the list goes on. For an excellent article, check out this website. http://www.thirdage.com/menopause/28-cues-that-menopause-is-on-its-way.

The main symptoms I've recently experienced include anxiety, heart palpitations, mood swings, sudden tears, hot flashes and insomnia.

I'm not a person who is quick to get a prescription filled. I try to refrain from taking prescription meds unless absolutely necessary. So just yesterday, I set out to find a natural product, a supplement that would help with my symptoms.

I started my search by looking for notes from a conference I attended earlier this year. One of the speakers was a medical doctor who used to practice as a gynecologist. However, he's now into holistic treatment. As he spoke, I wrote down two natural supplements he mentioned that, as he put it, "...every woman should have." Well, after an aggressive search for my notes, I finally found them. One of the products he named is called L-theanine (pharmaceutical grade only.)

I immediately got on the Internet to research the product and found out that L-theanine is the exact same product found in green tea and it's excellent especially for menopausal symptoms like anxiety, mood swings and others. It helps with relaxation. Needless to say, I immediately went to the Whole Foods store and purchased the product. But before I left home, I drank two cups of green tea!

One of the things I read in the research is the fact that the product works really fast. Well, on the same day I purchased it, I took the first capsule, and now, just a day later, I can't tell you the difference I feel. I feel like a brand new person! For a supplement, it works really fast.

If your symptoms are similar to mine, I recommend you try the product. To make sure you're getting pharmaceutical grade, make sure you see the word, "suntheanine" on the package.

Here's a link to the product I purchased at Whole Foods. I paid $25. Amazon has it for $32 for a 2-pack of 60 capsules per pack. Check it out and let me know what you think.

How to Create Real Wealth

The title of this post is the same as the title of a book I authored, "How to Create Real Wealth: A Practical and Spiritual Guide For Women."

The title sounds like a book about building up monetary and material wealth. After all, who doesn't want those? But that's not what it's about. It's a book about building personal and spiritual wealth.

I wrote this book for the person who is focusing on monetary and material wealth, the person who thinks success and fulfillment can be found in these. If this describes you, after reading my book, you will have a totally different perspective on what success and fulfillment really is. You'll find that success and fulfillment comes through:

1. Investing in Yourself
2. Investing in Others
3. Investing in a Relationship with God

...not necessarily in that order.

The Changing Seasons of Life

When I was driving home from taking my granddaughter to school this morning, I noticed that the huge oak tree in my back yard that was once covered with deep green leaves was now covered in brown and bright gold leaves. It was windy outside and I could see leaves falling from the limbs of the tree. It was a reminder that winter is here.

Winter brings death. Winter weather kills. It kills plants and flowers. The grass on the ground turns brown. No need to mow the lawn in the wintertime. The grass is dead.

Winter, spring, summer fall... Did you know that the seasons of nature were created in a way that actually reflects the order of our lives. There is a season for planting, a season for reaping, a season for resting and a season for dying. Just like seasons tell nature's story, they also tell ours.

In life, the skill of successful living is in knowing, understanding and embracing each season of life you are in. Knowing and acting according to what is relevant for a particular season is critical for a life that is peaceful, productive, well-balanced, well-lived and a life that is pleasing to God.

And while winter is the season for dying, remember, there can be no spring without winter.

Step Out on Faith

Did you go to church today? Hopefully you did, and hopefully you received spiritual food for the week. My husband and I went to church with my niece, Janee. She's a student at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where my husband and I were visiting this weekend.

The minister preached about faith. At the end of the lesson, he went to Matthew 14 to the story of Peter walking on the water. He pointed out the fact that we commonly hear comments condemning Peter for his lack of faith.

In Matthew 14: 22-33, Jesus had walked out onto the sea to meet his disciples who were in a boat. The Bible says that when the disciples saw Jesus, they thought He was a ghost. But Jesus told them who He was and when He did, Peter got out of the boat and walked out on the water to meet Jesus. On his way, he became fearful and started to sink.

The main point the minster made is this. While Peter might have allowed doubt and fear to enter into his mind causing him to start sinking, at least he had the courage to take the first step. None of the other disciples did.

Our challenge from the minister was, "Instead of condemning others for their lack of faith, examine your own faith."