I’m Okay

Our journey may not always be easy, but it is our journey.

There may be times when we feel like we are not hearing from God.

There may be times when we think there are things, such as everyday occurrences in life, or circumstances that are preventing us from moving forward or doing what we think God wants us to do, but if He has allowed those things in our life they too are a part of our journey.

As previously stated. We must learn to accept our assignment.

How many of you know that once you accept something it enables you to move through it. It may not make it easier, but acknowledging what is going on around you empowers you to accept it, do whatever you can do, and continue moving.

I have mentioned to you that part of my journey, as you are aware is to encourage others. I love sharing Gods word and helping people to understand that He truly is the way, the truth and the life. I want the world to know about the God we serve, but like many people I’m not comfortable speaking in front of people.

Well one of things that I’ve had to do is accept my assignment. I have to realize that in order for me to do all God has called me to do, and be all that He has called me to be I must acknowledge that my role, my journey includes public speaking. I have to realize that God anoints, appoints and equips each of us to excel in everything that He has called us to do.

Does it make it easier, no, not really? But, my confidence is not in myself or my abilities. It is in God and His abilities. So, I tell myself just as I tell you, to let my passion be greater than my fear.

  

The journey may not always be pleasant, but even during those unpleasant times God is with us. He never ever leaves us.

When we are able to give it all to God it makes it much easier for us. Think about a time when you relinquished a task or responsibility to someone else. Not just anyone, but someone you knew you could trust to take care of it, someone that you knew could actually do a better job than you could do, an expert. How did that make you feel? You probably felt relieved. You probably knew whatever it was would be taken care of and you did not have to worry about it.

That’s exactly how God wants us to feel. He wants us to have that same confidence, faith and trust in Him. When we are able to do this we have the peace and comfort that we need during our journey, and we can say I’m okay.

To listen to the message in its entirety click on the link below and select I’m Okay 

http://www.gretahillman.com/#!audiovideo/cd8l

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What Are You Afraid Of?

Many of you are familiar with Genesis 12:1. Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

What some of us fail to recognize is the use of the word had. God actually spoke to Abram and instructed him to leave his father’s house and his family, prior to his father Terah moving the family to Haran as we read in Acts 7:2-4. In verse 4 we read of Abram not moving or following Gods command until after the death of his father.

Why was it so important for Abram to leave familiar surrounding’s? It’s evident in what we just read that as long as Abram’s father was alive Abram was under his father’s influence. Many of us, just as Abram become comfortable in our surroundings and what we are doing and don’t want to move. Sometimes we are afraid of the unknown, afraid of failure or maybe even afraid of success.

What happens when we confront our fear? Initially we may be afraid. We are experiencing something we may not have experienced before, but once we realize there is nothing to fear we are able to move forward.  

Abram moved out of his comfort zone, away from a land with which he was familiar and away from family. What are you afraid of? What is standing between you and God’s best for your life?

As you are aware I have just published my first book, Secret Thoughts: Things We Are Afraid To Say Out Loud which is available on Amazon. A portion of the book contains personal information which I have not shared with many people. I thought it was important to share my story in an effort to empower others in a similar situation to not only share events of their lives if they so choose, but to free them from the bondage, shame, guilt or fear which may be associated with some of life’s experiences. I had to let my passion for empowering others be greater than my fear of people knowing my secret thoughts.

 

Fear immobilizes, confronting fear empowers. Don’t let fear hold you hostage.

Let Your Passion Be Greater Than Your Fear

My favorite question, as I have mentioned previously, is to ask people, especially adults, what they want to be when they grow up.  Some people’s passions are obvious.  There is no need for me to ask them at all.  After spending just a few moments speaking with them they cannot help but mention with great enthusiasm what kindles their fire.  Their face glows.  They may share what they are doing, what motivates them, and/or their future plans.

There are others that speak of a dream, desire, vision or passion, but put very little effort behind bringing it to fruition.  They have ideas of grandeur.  They can even envision themselves where they want to be, but have no plan to get there.  We read in Proverbs 18:16 (KJV) a man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.  We also read in in James 2:28 (KJV) yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  We must have faith, but it is the work or belief and effort that we put behind the faith that actually shows that we have faith.

If we say we believe, but never make an effort towards what it is that we believe, do we really believe?  You may not always succeed immediately out of the gate, but you must open the gate and step on the other side.

Sometimes we say we have a dream or desire, but is it even ours?  Could it be the desire our parents or someone of influence over our lives has for us?  Perhaps we see people with dreams all around us and we want one just because they have one.  Never belittle, or allow anyone else to belittle your dream.  No dream is too big and no dream is too small.  If it’s your dream you own it.  Get excited about it!  You may be the only one who is, but that’s okay.  It’s yours, and you are the one that will feel fulfilled when it comes to fruition.

There are many things that may hold us back, some are real and some are excuses.  But even what is real may slow us down, but should not stop us.  Tragedy can prevent us from moving forward, but we should not let it stop us.  Sometimes it may have the reverse effect and drive us forward.  Budget may stop us, but if we are experiencing a financial deficit we should channel our energy and resources in a productive direction to keep us moving.  When our momentum stops, even briefly, it is difficult to restart our engine.

Procrastination may be one of the most powerful blocks that prevent us from moving forward.  We come up with excuse after excuse, one of which is “I work better under pressure.”  Do you really work better under pressure, or is it that you wait until the last minute and when you complete your task you feel relieved?  Do you realize procrastination is a form of fear?  You may be afraid of failure which is natural; no one wants to fail, but you may be more afraid of success.  What happens when you succeed? What is your next step?  What will be expected of you?

Whatever your desire, dream, vision or passion, in order for you to succeed you must Let Your Passion Be Greater than Your Fear, which is what I have done.  My website www.gretahillman.com is now live; please click on the link to view.  Follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page and feel free to leave comments. Subscribe to my blog read, and submit questions and/or comments to my forum.  I accept public speaking invitations and I encourage you to watch for the release of my books and upcoming events by visiting my site often.

Thanks for your continued support.  May God bless you as I yield myself to Him and He continues to speak through me.