Letting Go and Launching Forward

"This is true faith, a living confidence in the goodness of God.” –Martin Luther

There is something about our inner and outer selves that shines when we walk in the confidence of God's glory and goodness. It expresses the security, attachment, love, and comfort that we receive through our relationship with God. It also extends the invitation of our belonging in God's kingdom to the people we encounter and have the privilege to serve all throughout our walk of life.

As we launch into this new year, my prayer is that each of you can do so without having anything that restrains you from walking forward. In order to live fully, we have to let go. May this year be a year unlike any other for each of you; a year that allows you to live and embrace life in its fullest like God has desired for you to do from the very beginning. Nothing should hold you back from a life that was given to you with intent for it to be lived in its full. Not one thing. 

When we learn to let go of the things that hold us back, we start to launch forward into the true, abundant life awaiting our arrival. Today, I want to share a few thoughts on how to let go of the weights that may be holding you back:

1. Why is it holding you back? Anger? Bitterness? A lack of closure? Unresolved pain? Whatever it is, feel it fully. Do not stifle your feelings or they will leak out and affect not only you, but those around you as well. Before you let go of any emotion, you have to feel your way through it. Do not try to throw it to the back of your mind when it appears at the very front of it. If you do not actually take the time to feel what you want to feel, you simply will not heal. Do not be fearful of feeling through your emotions, ladies. You are strong and you will get through this.
2. If possible, express your feelings to the person who offended you. Give yourself a day to pray about what you are feeling, and then start preparing what it is you want to say. Anger may have been the root of your problem, but remember that anger is not the solution. You have to be comfortable and confident when you confront whoever it is that hurt you. Pray for proper preparation and seek the best outlet of communication for your situation (ask to get together, write a letter, make a phone call, construct an email, etc.). No matter how the reciprocator of your pain responds, know that you can only control how clearly and kindly you express yourself.
3. Change your perception. See the root of your cause as a blessing in disguise. Any opportunity received is every opportunity offered by God to glorify Him. Train yourself to see things this way. Whatever it is that you are still holding onto, do not forget Who it is you serve. My mother always told me two wrongs do not make a right. Be the one who makes things right- even if you are the one who was wronged.
4. Focus your mind on what you can control. Although you do not have control over everything, you do have control over some things. For example, you can control what you believe and how you implement your beliefs into your life. Being what we believe brings happiness to our hearts. Do not let your anger or anxieties conquer your control.
5. Cultivate compassion. We have all made mistakes before, and we will all make them again. Next time, instead of showing anger on the offender, choose to show compassion. Compassion dissolves anger.
6. Learn the lesson. No matter what it is we go through, lessons are always involved. Look at your situation and see what lessons there are to be learned. If you have not learned any lessons in your situation quite yet, maybe it is because your lesson revolves around learning how to minister out of your pain or how to confront someone that has hurt you.
7. Make lists. Make one list that addresses what you are stressed or worried about. Make another list that supplies ideas to release your frustrations and anxieties. Then, turn these ideas into actions. 

I pray that these methods leave you with hope for a bright year ahead of you. Do not let the things that hold you back rob you of your joy. Instead, face them head on with a fearless faith and shake those shackles off. 

Walk in the freedom and truth of God's promises as you walk through the year ahead of you. 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (Peter 5:7 NIV)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)

About the Author :

Emily Lauren Townsend is a 21 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily Lauren has a heart for worship and women's ministry. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can find her sharing her delight in Jesus by following @DaughterofDelight on Instagram.

The Art of Now

With the end of one year comes the beginning of a new year. And, with the beginning of a new year comes that long list of resolutions- many of which that are sparked by guilt.

After indulging in those delicious holiday foods and lounging around in food comas for hours on end, we decide to hit the gym and live healthier lives. After spending endless amounts of money on the perfect gifts for our loved ones, we decide to save more and spend less. The list of such resolutions goes on, but in the end, the truth is they do not last.

We all know the battle; making resolutions and fighting to keep them. And we all know the outcome; a loss of our willpower to keep fighting and resuming back to our "normal" lives instead.

We feel all this pressure to make resolutions just because the first day of the new year is right around the corner. It is understandable to view the first day of the new year as a clean slate. Speaking from a spiritual perspective, however, we receive clean slates with every rising sun. God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

With this in mind, the only resolution I have for the upcoming year is a challenge I want you all to consider taking: make everyday your January 1. 

There is nothing special about this day like the world makes it out to be. Every day is an opportunity to make resolutions and pursue them. When you have a goal in mind, do not put it on hold until the first of the year. Your time in this world is not guaranteed, so start living now. 

Be present for the day ahead of you when you crawl out of bed. Live with an intention that is determined by where you are now, what your heart desires now, what your body needs now, and what those you love need now. Treat January 1 and the 364 days that follow it with the same hope and sense of renewal.

Here are a few ways to help you focus on living in the present: 

Keep your awareness fully centered on the here and the now. When you live in the present, you are accepting life as it is now rather than focusing on what it could have been or what it will be. Do not allow yourself to live in an illusion. When you do this, you surrender your power to create. Focus on who you are, where you are, and the changes you want to make today. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NIV) 

If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is. -Unknown

  

Breathe. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths, right now.

Focusing on our breathing brings us back into reality, the place in which we should always dwell. By getting into the practice of breathing, you can build a relationship between your mind and reality that will further help you to savor the moment.

God used His very breath to give you life. Use your time of breathing to reflect on your Creator.

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4 NIV)

Follow your passion. There is nothing better than that feeling of being completely engrossed in what you are doing. When you do what you love, you love what you do and you become completely present as a result. Hold on to this feeling you get and learn how to incorporate it into your everyday life. 

Nothing has happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now. -Eckhart Tolle

Surrender to knowing nothing. When we live with the mentality that we know everything, we are sure to be proven wrong. There is a Greater Power that lives within us all. Make the humble act of surrendering this truth to the Power within you and let the One who knows all be your guide.  

Cleanse, clear, and release. We tend to hold on to many things that should have been let go of a long time ago. Maybe it is a grudge, pain, a lost love, or the deep sadness associated with living a life focused on the "what could have been." Whatever it is, it is important that you give it to God and ask Him for the strength to let go and move forward. The things that we should have already let go of fill our hearts with nothing but an empty, stabbing pain. Let the Lord fill your heart with His goodness and love as you seek the abundance of true life you have been missing out on.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

Each day serves as an opportunity for a fresh start, a new beginning, and a chance to create a great day. When you wake up in the morning, focus on where you stand instead of where you desire to one day be. The art of now is a beautiful thing. Do not miss out on it.

Blessings on the New Year that lies ahead of you. 

About the Author :

Emily Lauren Townsend is a 21 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily Lauren has a heart for worship and women's ministry. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can find her sharing her delight in Jesus by following @DaughterofDelight on Instagram.

The Gift of Listening

The season for cheesy Christmas movies is finally here and I have unashamedly taken full advantage of it. In one of the movies I watched earlier this week, I picked up on a recurring theme that I am all too familiar with.

In this particular movie (What movie?), the female protagonist had just gotten engaged to her high-end, business boyfriend. When she attended a Christmas party with him the next evening, she was telling him about how beautiful the proposal was and how that giant dazzling rock on her finger was everything she had ever dreamed of and more. Her fiancé was nodding his head in agreement, smiling at her, when really his gestures were the perfect responses for not only her words, but the conversation he was having over the tiny Bluetooth stuck to his ear. Low blow, right? Well, it got me thinking.

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation with someone who was very obviously not listening to you? Or how about a conversation with someone who interrupted you by filling in your sentence with his or her own thoughts? Maybe it was not even an audible interruption. Perhaps it was something more along the lines of texting while listening. Whatever it is, we have all experienced something like this and have been guilty of it too.

What is the purpose of getting together for a rendezvous if you or the person in your atmosphere is not fully present in the conversation? It only amounts to one or both of you leaving the conversation feeling unheard, unwanted, and unimportant.

Listening is a gift that must be shared by you, along with everyone else out of an intentional desire and purposeful effort for the voice that is in your presence to be heard.

We have one mouth and two ears for a reason, you know. Think about the multitude of ways in which you can offend others with your mouth compared to the impossibility of offending others with your ears.

My advice to you: be fully present.

Put your phone in your purse and only answer it in case of an emergency. Text messages can wait. I know some of you may be professional multitaskers, but when you are in the presence of someone, the only task that you should hold is being fully present throughout the entire conversation. Regardless of your awesome "listening and texting at the same time" skills, it is deeply offensive to others when your eyes and ears are not on the person in your presence whose voice deserves to be heard. Not being fully present in conversations can easily become the root of an unresolved problem in your relationships.

Ladies, always offer the gift of listening to the people around you. Listen with a commitment to hear exactly what another person is saying. Do not just listen to their words; listen for implications in their words and for the purpose behind what it is that they are saying. Hear what the person is feeling, and be able to feel what they feel as a result. Listen with your heart, soul, and mind. This is what it looks like to be fully present. 

Listening is certainly a spiritual gift. Because we all have ears, we all have the gift.  How we use it is up to us. Use it right. All listening requires us to set our selves aside and offer a validation, acknowledgement, and regard to what one is seeking by placing our entire focus on them.

When we speak, we want to be heard. When others speak, they want to be heard as well. We all have stories to share, points to make, and feelings to express. It does not matter if you disagree with points made, have already heard the stories being shared, or are too concerned about your own feelings; everyone deserves the chance to be heard in every conversation they take part in. So take care of you before you partake in a conversation with and for someone else.

We must start and continue to set the example of being fully present in conversation. This is a great challenge and a rewarding opportunity to start with your friends and family, especially during this holiday season when everyone comes together. I want to challenge you to make the commitment to be fully present starting now. When you water your conversations with intention by giving the present of your presence, your relationships will grow in deep, abundant and rewardingly rich ways.

The gift of listening is the gift of healing. Be a healer.

Here are some quotes on the gift of listening that I would like to leave you with today:

"Silence is a source of great strength." —Lao Tzu

"One friend, one person who is truly understanding, who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider a problem, can change our whole outlook on the world." —Dr. E. H. Mayo

"There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the breath of life for a conversation." —James Nathan Miller

"You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time." —M. Scott Peck

"Listening looks easy, but it's not simple. Every head is a world." —Cuban Proverb

"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." —Turkish Proverb

"To listen fully means to pay close attention to what is being said beneath the words. You listen not only to the 'music,' but to the essence of the person speaking. You listen not only for what someone knows, but for what he or she is. Ears operate at the speed of sound, which is far slower than the speed of light the eyes take in. Generative listening is the art of developing deeper silences in yourself, so you can slow our mind’s hearing to your ears’ natural speed, and hear beneath the words to their meaning." —Peter Senge

About the Author :

Emily Lauren Townsend is a 21 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily Lauren has a heart for worship and women's ministry. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can find her sharing her delight in Jesus by following @DaughterofDelight on Instagram.

The Benefits of Suffering

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Sometimes, thankfulness is hard to have. It is hard to look at certain events in our lives that have caused us so much pain and learn how to be thankful for those "shadowy" moments. It is easier to accept the relief of overcoming a season of suffering rather than looking at the ways in which it allowed God to further shape us into the person He has called us to be. Believe it or not, though, our earthly suffering does have value. I know, it sounds odd, but stick with me and I will explain exactly what I mean by this.

• Suffering gives us a deeper sense of gratitude for simple blessings. Earthly things that we thought were once important to us become the things that seem not to matter in the end.  This is because earthly things cannot fill our hearts like Heavenly things. Suffering shows us the important things in life. 

• Our suffering can teach us to trust in God, not ourselves. Too often, we depend on our own strength to get us through. We are called to put our trust in our Heavenly Father and receive strength through Him by doing so. We were made for God. We cannot live without Him.

• Certain seasons of suffering yield benefits after overcoming the trial. There is purpose in the suffering, even if it does not reveal itself right away.

• Suffering helps us to connect with God on a more intimate level. Drawing near to Him with vulnerable, desperate hearts eases the fear of being transparent with Him. It is in our very moments of desperation that we realize just how much we need our Father.

• Suffering equips us better to sympathize with other sufferers, if not during our own trial, later. Suffering reminds us that we are not called to live this life alone. We are called by the Comforter to be comforters.

• Suffering makes us Homesick. In other words, it sharpens our awareness that this earth is not a permanent home. Our laid out Destination involves zero sickness, zero pain, and zero suffering. This is certainly something to look forward to.

• Suffering shapes our character. The lessons we learn along the way shape our vision and understanding regarding the true meaning of life and why we are here.

• Bearing our suffering well can be inspiring and beneficial to others. When we place our trust into the hands of God, seek our strength from Him, and remain firm in our faith throughout the waves of life, people see our perseverance and become encouraged and inspired by our desire to make it through. When suffering shows up at their doorstep, they will remember your fight to overcoming the trial and it will be one of their incentives to not give up. I guarantee it.

Ladies, regardless of what it is that we have had to face in life, and no matter how many answers we have or have not received, our Heavenly Father has always been there. We may have blurry vision in our times of suffering, but God has a clear picture. Know this, and be comforted by it.

We live in a world full of one chaotic event after another. Chaos even exists in our families. It is everywhere. But so is God. We cannot forget this.

When we surrender our chaos into the hands of our Father rather than seeking ways for the world to fix it, we acknowledge that regardless of our pain, God is in control. He is our safe haven. He loves us and offers refuge as He listens to our anguish and anger. He holds on tight.

Whatever it is you may be going through today, know that this is not the end of your story. The "shadowy" moments you have or may be facing have no say in the fact that joy comes in the morning.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. —(Psalm 30:5)

We are called to live by faith and not by sight, to lift our hearts to God in the darkness because we have the promise of the morning. We also have the promise of future joy amid our tears. We must leave our sorrows with Jesus, the Man of Sorrows.

We may be powerless, but God is powerful. Be steadfast and determined, my dear sisters.  Allow your past, present, and future circumstances to build your character. Trust God to use every detail for your ultimate good.

Because believe it or not, there are benefits to suffering.

"New mercies every morning, grace for every day, new hope for every trial, and courage all the way." —McVeigh

About the Author :

Emily Lauren Townsend is a 21 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily Lauren has a heart for worship and women's ministry. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can find her sharing her delight in Jesus by following @DaughterofDelight on Instagram.