Challenge:  Do some soul searching, set standards for yourself, and stick by them.

I went to an anniversary service this past weekend at a local church.  One of the greatest messages I have ever heard from Pastor Mark Devon McKnight was, "If you want to drive, you have to have a license.  If you want to go hunting, you have to have a license.  If you want to fishing, you have to have a license.  Tell him, if he wants to live with you, come back with a license."  W.O.W.!!!!

I have also seen an episode on T.D. Jake's talk show, Mind, Body, & Soul, and one of the most powerful things that I have acknowledged from that show is that there are two kinds of women out there.  Women that settle, and women that do not.  Whether they settle or not, both can be equally be without a ring for the same time.  But what makes the difference???  In short fewer words, women that settle take what is given to them not choosing or believing that they is better out there and they are worth more respectively.  Women that do not settle, limit themselves to hope that a man of higher standards will find and view them as greater value.

Challenge:  Make a change to be better.  Stand firm in who you are transforming into.

You have had that time to yourself.  You have revamped the way you think, operate, and are now set out to achieve your goals.   You have told your friends and family about the changes you are going to implement, and they respond with discouraging statements making you feel like you are not who you say you are or will be.  It's okay!!!  This is normal. 

When you are making personal changes to better yourself, you may get a little discouragement from your peers and loved ones.  The key thing is to be consistent on your changes.  After awhile, when they see that you are consistent in your change, one of two things will happen.  1) They will begin to support you and encourage you.  2) They will fall to the waistline.  If they fall, it's okay.  Because God is only making room for better people or better things that will need that energy and attention.

Week 5:  Balance your life.  God first, Family second, Ministry third, Church fourth, etc.

Balancing life only makes things easier.  Find your priorities, and work accordingly.  Making time for the things that are most important for your in that order bring balance and order to your life.

Week 4:  Find time to have for yourself.

A lot of the times we can get so busy, and keep going until we cannot go anymore.  Finding time for yourself allows you to instill and maintain peace and balance.  While friends, family, work, and loved ones may ask for time all the time, remember that you are only one person, and you cannot please everyone.  However, you can do the best you can without losing yourself.



GLG