A Rough Road

  Hello there!  It's been a while.  Have you ever found yourself faced with a difficult phase of life and wondering if you are on the right path?  Maybe you were sure you were headed in the right direction, but everything just seems to be slowing you down and tripping you up along the way.  We sometimes have the tendency to think that if things aren't going smoothly we aren't meant to travel that path.  But just because things aren't easy doesn't mean you are going the wrong way.  Moses in the book of Exodus faced opposition from Pharaoh day after day. (Exodus 5-12)  He was told "No" over and over again.  He could have begun to question whether God was really going to deliver Israel or whether he had really been called to lead them to freedom, but God was using the setbacks and delays to set them up for a triumphant exodus from Egypt.  When Pharaoh finally did let them leave, they left with gold and silver in abundance because the Egyptians were so eager to see them get out.  God was preparing them to receive all these blessings through all the tribulations they faced.
  Similarly, maybe you felt God was calling you to do something, but when you proceeded to do what He asked things became difficult.  Maybe you faced loss or hardship, and these situations left you doubting your direction.  Do not give up when the road becomes difficult.  If you are willing to stay the course and hold on to faith, you will come out more triumphant and more blessed than you could have imagined in the first place.  Like the pressure that forms the diamond out of the rock, the difficulties you face are forming you into a person who shines and who is more valuable and beautiful inside and out.
  If you are struggling today, know that God loves you, and that you can "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of you faith produces patience.  Patience must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  (James 1:2-4)  When you come out on the other side of your battles you will not lack anything.  You will be complete.  Keep your chin up.  Your victory is waiting for you.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Making the Right Choices

  Good Morning Friends!  I want to talk to you today about the difference between fear and lack of peace.  Now, on the surface, these two things may seem almost identical, but if we are to make the right life choices, we must absolutely learn the difference between the two.
  When I was a kid, I had a tough time understanding this concept, and as a result I thought that anytime I felt afraid or anxious about something I should not do that thing.  But as adults I believe most of us know there are things which may cause us anxiety, but we can choose to overcome that and be more successful because of it, some of these include public speaking, flying, traveling, moving, etc.  Many of these things may come with a bit of fear attached to them because they are new or unfamiliar.  This does not mean we shouldn't do them, it just means we may have to overcome fear in order to do what we need to do.
  However, there is a difference between feeling scared because something is new or different and feeling a lack of peace.  A lack of peace is that uneasy feeling in your body and mind telling you that something is not right and you need to get away from whatever that is.  When you feel a lack of peace, you need to tune into what your Spirit is telling you and listen.  Whether it makes logical sense or not, listen to what gives you peace.  Many times an opportunity may look wonderful, but if it does not give you peace, RUN from it.  Do not linger in situations that fail to give you peace.  You will only risk loss, heart ache, and negative consequences.
  Often times new opportunities come with a bit of fear or doubt simply because they are new, and this is where it is vital that we know what our Spirit is saying.  Do you feel afraid because this is new, or is there something deeper there?  Are you lacking peace about it?  The answer to this question should determine your course of action.  If you feel afraid simply because it's new, then begin retraining your mind and body to like this new transition and enjoy the changes associated with the new phase you are in.  But if you are lacking peace, pray, pray, pray about what your next move should be, and get to a place of peace ASAP!  Nothing is worth losing your peace over.
  I hope that you new doors of opportunity are opening for you my friend, and I pray that you are in tune to the Spirit to know which doors to step through.  Let peace guide you, and never let fear stop you from tackling new challenges.  I love you, and  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Start Your Day Right

  Good Morning!  Happy Monday!  Are you ready for the week?  If not, check out How To Have a Great Week when you finish reading today's blog.  I want to talk to you this morning about setting the tone for your day.  How do you usually start your morning?  Are you rushed?  Frustrated?  Can't find your keys?  Do you wake up early or late?  Breakfast or no?  The way that you start your morning often times sets the mood for your entire day.  Have you ever noticed that if you wake up late and feel stressed in the morning your whole day seems to kind of continue in that pattern?  Successful people are often known to be early risers, and here's why... they wake up early to prepare!  I've heard speaker's call this concept "The Hour of Power."  But it's a fairly easy strategy which you can use to bolster your attitude and productivity too.
  It's so important to start your day from a position of peace, preparedness and positivity, and you can do this by intentionally setting aside a little extra time each morning to build some new habits.  My morning looks something like this....
   
   7AM- Read Scripture and Pray
   8AM-Blog/Read (Personal growth books)
   9AM-Write
  10AM-Get Ready for Work

  Now, obviously this is more than an hour's time, and not everyone has the luxury of going into work at 11 am like me.  However, on days when I have to be at work at 7AM, I simply shorten the list to Scripture and Prayer time and Blogging, and I get my reading and writing done later in the day.  The important thing for me is to make sure that I spend my time with God first thing in the morning so that I am in the right frame of mind to face my day and then to get my blog written so that it does not get neglected.  (Oftentimes what we put off doing does not get done).  I can't tell you what you need to put in your morning quiet time.. it might be exercise, meditation, or a healthy breakfast, but I can tell you that having a morning time set aside to focus yourself and prepare yourself for the day is essential to being your most productive.  If you don't set your intention for the day, the day has a way of setting your intentions for you, and that's not usually a good thing.
  Another important way to set the tone for the day is often missed during our daily commute.  Perhaps you turn on the radio or the news on your drive or walk to work.  Often times we mindlessly listen to whatever is on, and we lose a valuable opportunity to prepare ourselves to have our best day.  Personally, I like to use my few minutes on the way to work to put my mind and attitude in the right place.  I listen to an uplifting audio or my recorded affirmations on the way to work, and I also have a playlist of only positive music which I turn on when I have longer commute days.  Be purposeful about what you put into your mind, especially first thing in the morning, and you will find that it affects your whole day.
  If you are looking to grow yourself, succeed at whatever you need to accomplish today, and do it all with a positive attitude, then begin today to change your morning routine and set yourself up for a winning day.  I hope you make this a productive and positive week!  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Getting a Little Bit Political

   Hi friends!  I hope you are doing well today.  I just wanted to share with you a few thoughts this afternoon about politics and relationships.  I normally stay as far away from the politically charged debates circulating on social media, and I don't spout my opinion unless asked for it (for the most part, anyway.)   You see, I used to be a person who liked to argue.  I argued my points with teachers, professors, classmates, friends, and strangers, but then one day I started to realize that all my arguing was not winning others to my side, and in fact, it was probably doing more to push them in the opposite direction.  The truth is, people's beliefs are deeply personal to them and are often based on their experiences.  The majority of the time people will not be swayed to your way of thinking using logic an reasoning.  No matter how many "facts" you give someone, you will not change what their experiences are.
    For myself, my support for the Pro-Life movement stems not just from my belief that God created all humans and we should therefore protect their lives.  It is also solidified forever in my heart because I held my tiny infant girl who was born at eighteen weeks (a time when abortion is still allowed in some states).  I saw her fingers and toes and  looked at her precious face, and no one will ever be able to convince me that a fetus is not a baby because of what I have experienced.  But just because that is my experience does not mean someone else does not have a deeply personal experience which causes them to be Pro-Choice.  Our differing beliefs do not mean I cannot love someone who believes the opposite of me.  I have friends and family who believe many things that contradict my beliefs, and that's ok.  The only thing that means is that we will probably vote for different candidates on election day and support different charities with our time and money.
   Somehow we as a nation seem to have forgotten that it's ok to have different opinions and be our own individuals.  We've forgotten that we can all choose to live with one another and love one another regardless of if you voted for red or blue.  It's not our job to tell others how to think.  But we can share our experiences with one another, and maybe we will start to gain a better understanding of the other side by doing so.  Let's start reaching out hands of healing, not pushing others away and creating division.  Let's learn to bridge the gap between our opinions and simply say, "We think differently, but I still love you."  If we can start to do this, I believe we will all be better off, and our communities and country will be too.  
  No matter what political/social/economical/religious ideas you hold, know that I love you, and I can't wait to see you succeed!  

~K.W.   

The Problem With Pride

   Good Morning Friends!  I want to talk to you today about the quiet power called Humility.  When I started this blog I had two prayers which I have prayed every day since beginning it.  The first was that God would give me the words to write, and the second was that God would keep me humble.  I firmly believed from the very beginning that great things were going to come out of this blog, but I also knew that every talent and gift I have comes from God, and therefore I had nothing to boast about.  The thing is, God can use us when we're humble.  But when we start letting our ego get in the way, we halt our own progress.
   We have to approach life with the remembrance that "every good and perfect gift" comes from God.  (James 1:17)  We often think of this verse in reference to material things, like money, children, homes, etc, but this also applies to things like promotions, favor, friendships, and opportunities.  It can be easy for us to get it into our heads that we are something great and that we have built our empires on our own strength, but this is a dangerous position to be in, for "pride goes before destruction"  (Proverbs 16:18)  And when we begin to think that we are responsible for the creation of the good things in our lives, we are like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand.  (Matthew 7:24-27)  See, you may have a talent or strength which you think has carried you thus far, and you may put a lot of confidence in it.  But the problem is, when the rains come, as they inevitably will, if you are only looking to yourself as the sole constructor of your universe, you will soon find that your weaknesses can destroy you.  Conversely, when we give God the glory for all the good we have received, knowing that our blessings come only from Him, when the struggles of life begin to attack us, we can trust that His strength will work through our weaknesses and bring us victories that we could have never accomplished on our own.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)
  Take some time today to evaluate where your attitude is.  Are you trusting in your own strength and giving yourself a pat on the back for all your accomplishments, or are you remaining humble and thankful that God has blessed you with great things?  Start taking the praise you receive and giving it back to God, and start trusting Him to continue blessing you with good things.  You will find that when your confidence is not in yourself, when the storms come, you won't have to depend on your own strength to fix them, but you can simply and humbly bask in God's goodness and let Him carry you through.
  Keep moving forward and stay humble with each victory.  I'm so excited to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Hit Refresh

  Good Morning Friends!  Ever feel like you've sunken into a lull?  Like maybe you are just dragging along getting through each day instead of excelling like you were mean to do?  We all go through times that are not as exciting as others in life, and we all go through days when we feel like we're trudging through mud just trying to get by.  But you don't have to stay stuck where you're at.  You can reinvigorate yourself and get back on your way.  Here are a few simple strategies to use to get yourself back up and moving forward.
  The first thing I usually do if I am in a slump is to find a day when I don't have anything else planned.  I usually pick my first available day off, and I set that as my refresh day.  Then, I use that day to do a few specific things.  The first of these things is rest.  You may feel like I am harping on rest, because I've even written a few posts about it, but I cannot overstate the value of being well rested.  God did not intend for us to run our bodies into the ground and exhaust ourselves trying to build our empires.  Psalm 127:2 says, "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for He grants sleep to those He loves."  God wants us to function at our optimum health, and part of that means taking care of our physical bodies by giving them the rest and nutrition they need.
  Secondly, on my reset day, I take time to really sit down and read, pray, and write out my goals and ambitions for the year and get a plan of action together.  Sometimes we get off course and get discouraged and we lose sight of what it is we were working towards in the first place.  Use your day of relaxation to fix your eyes back on the goal so that you can start pressing forward with full steam.     The third thing I do on this day is to get organized.  I organize my space, my week, my finances, anything that I need to clear out so that I can get mentally focused and get back on track with moving forward.
  Lastly, try to get some time outside if you can.  Go for a long walk at a nearby park and just allow yourself to clear out your headspace.  Pray, meditate, just breath.  The mind body connection is amazing.
  When you get your mind and your environment free of clutter, and you take the time to refresh yourself and retrain your focus, you find yourself lifted out of your slump and ready to start the next day.  You will go to bed and wake up with excitement for where you are headed.  Don't allow yourself to stay in a slump.  Give yourself the refreshing you need, and get moving on your journey again.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

When the Going Gets Tough

  Ok friends, ever get into one of those phases of life where you are facing a mental or emotional crisis, and you can't seem to manage juggling all the things you usually do?  I am going to share with you tonight the way to "keep it all together" when you just can't "keep it all together."  You can keep your life relatively in order and functioning even when you are not at 100%, and I've got a few suggestions to help you with doing that.

1.  Keep track of deadlines.
     Ok, if you do not happen to be a super organized person, do yourself a humongous favor and get a planner.  You can do this digitally or on paper, but it needs to be somewhere where you will see it and see it often.  I personally use an App, (Wunderlist) and a planner, several planners in fact.  Once you have a planner, start to write down every important date you need to be aware of.  This could be things like, deadlines to submit paperwork for your job, birthday parties, doctor's appointments, work schedules, travel plans, bills that need paid, etc.  The goal here is to not get caught unaware by events because you can always see what's coming next and be prepared for it.  No more of those "Oops I forgot we have snack for soccer tonight, maybe I can sneak out during the game and get something" moments.  Then, even if a crisis hits, you become ill, or something comes up which pulls you out of your norm, you know the main things which need to be done and when.

2.  Know your priorities.
     If you're like me, there are probably a lot of things you do throughout your day which help your life run more smoothly but are not necessities.  Things like sweeping floors,  getting the mail, even mowing the yard, or hosting lunch on Sunday's for your family are all things which can be delegated or rearranged or just left undone if life hits you with one of those disrupting curve balls.  Figure out what you can and can't live without.  For me, my son's appointments can't be skipped, but getting the dog's toenails trimmed can wait another week.  I also know it's a priority for me to have my Scripture reading, praying, and writing time daily.  I just don't function without it, so if it comes down to putting on my makeup or getting a little time with God in, I pick reading the majority of the time.  Know what you have to do, and know what you can let go or pawn off for a bit.  Not every season will be as demanding as the one you might be facing, so cut yourself a break and learn to let a few things drop if you need to.

  Ultimately, we don't always get warnings about when our life is going to make a dramatic shift, but we can stay afloat if we take the time to be organized and know our priorities.  Know that if you're in  rough phase, it won't stay this way forever, and you can come through it stronger and wiser than ever.  Keep paddling towards the goal, and hang on to what's most important.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Back At It

  Good Morning Friends! I hope you haven’t missed me too much in the last few days. I took a little hiatus to make a surprise trip to visit my family for the holiday, and I ran into some technical difficulties with my website while I was out of town.  All is resolved now, and you can expect your daily dose of K.W. thoughts to keep coming at you again!  I hope you are taking time to enjoy your life and your family too, and today I want to talk to you about how a little bit of encouragement can go a long way.  Your words are so powerful, and when used for good, this power can have quite an impact on the people around you.
  Have you ever had someone just speak a few simple words to you in passing that brightened your day or gave you courage to press on? This is the power of our words at work, and I want to challenge you to become better at using your words to lift others up. We all know how easy it is to tear down with our words. We hear negative talk from our co-workers, Facebook friends, probably even at our churches. But how about if we all started making a conscious effort to only speak good things about each other. In fact, this concept is so important that there are whole sections devoted to it in the timeless classic, How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  One of his guiding principles is that we must "give honest and sincere appreciation" to others.  Think of the last time your boss, spouse, or just a stranger on the street gave you a genuine complement.  Think of how this made you feel.  Did you feel like you have more energy, confidence, and joy?  Strive to make other people around you feel this way on a daily basis.  When people leave your presence, do they feel uplifted or beat down? You hold the power to change the lives of people around you by taking the time to simply encourage them.
  My grandma is an excellent person at words of encouragement.  She is always stopping her family members to hug them and tell them she is proud of them or she loves them.  She makes you feel better when you talk with her.  That is an example we can all benefit from following in this area.  Make it your aim today to see how many people you can lift up by genuine words of encouragement.  Insincere flattery will get you no where, and I do not recommend it, but learn to give authentic, loving compliments, and you will find that people around you instantly brighten up.  Make it an uplifting weekend.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.

Get Out of Your Head

  Sometimes as human beings we start to get the feeling that we really know a lot.  We can spend a lot of time inside our own heads, thinking our own thoughts and feeling like we've got it pretty much together.  But usually what I find is that when I read a book, or attend a church service, listen to a podcast, or attend a conference, I am confronted with new ideas, and I walk away with greater knowledge, insight, and usually a few things I want to work on getting better at.  My point is that, if we only ever stay inside our own heads, we will have a tendency to think we know it all, and this is a dangerous place to be because when you think you've made it, you stop growing.
  If you have dreams and goals you want to accomplish, or even if you just want to become a better version of you, find ways to challenge yourself by connecting with people and ideas outside of yourself.  Do not allow yourself to become stagnate and stay in the same place.  You need to be confronted daily with things that will push your comfort zone and knowledge further.  You cannot do this on your own.  The only way to truly do this is by surrounding yourself with others who know more than you, and seeking out resources which will give you more insight.  As one of my mentors likes to say, "You only know what you know."
  Make it a priority this week to schedule time to learn and grow.  Listen to audios and read books daily, get involved in conferences, learning opportunities, churches, and communities which give you opportunities to expand your horizons.  Growth is vital to your success, and I cannot wait to see you reach your fullest potential.  Make it an awesome week!

~K.W.