Category: Faith

My One Word for the Rest of 2018

Leave a comment

Untitled design

At the beginning of the year, one word goals flooded your timelines, as we all selected one word that would be our focus for the year.  You’ve been encouraged to set goals.  You read posts that urged you to “GET READY” for the new year.  You’ve read social media posts that have said “2019 is THE YEAR” and yes, we hear that year after year.  But, what can you celebrate that has made this year THE YEAR? I have so much to celebrate and will share in a later post.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything as this past month I’ve been SUPER busy putting things into perspective, shifting into a mindset and schedule for my family’s new venture that will be announced soon.  Lately, I’ve been having to lay some things down and get real with God. Like seriously. In my chit chats with God, I’m encouraged to revisit the one word focus and shift my focus on one word for the rest of 2018.  Yes, I have some goals to accomplish.  I have some plans that I need to prioritize.  I have some projects I need to finalize. However, my focus for the rest of this year is tied up in one word-DILIGENCE.

My main focus is to be diligent in all that I do.  One area I want to be diligent in is seeking God with my whole heart.  The word of God tells us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all of His right ways of living.”  I don’t want to chase goals first.  I no longer want to chase status or material possessions.  I want to seek God. By putting God first, I know that all other areas of my life will fall into place.

Some times we can get distracted by our surroundings-family, social life, social media, television- and we find ourselves off track.  It happens because none of us are perfect.  However, if we find ourselves getting off track, seek God.  If we find ourselves becoming weary, seek God. We have to be careful because distractions are dangerous.

I am always reminded of the lessons I learned from the book, The Best Yes.  Ladies, if you have not read that book, get it today!  Seeking God, being diligent in seeking Him, helps you give your best yes! And when we are diligent in seeking God, “all these things will be added unto us”.  Blessings don’t always have to be tangible things but any reward from God is worth having for in the word it says that “He rewards those who diligently seek Him.”

Take some time to walk away from your to do list, your goals, your planners, your possessions-“take up your cross and follow me.” Ponder on your one word to wrap up the year.  Can you connect that word to scriptures? Try it.  It will help you as you navigate through these last few months to seek Him first.

Remember, it’s a faith journey y’all & no matter where you are in life, you must have faith!

Blessings!

Tamika W.

Struggling with giving God your best yes? Check out my three post reflections here:

To Give Life Your Best Yes, Seek Wisdom

The Powerful No Leads to a Best Yes

3 Things That Happen When We Say No

Advertisements

4 Habits to Kick as We Get Closer to 2019

Leave a comment

Let’s admit it girls. We all have habits that we need to get rid of before we toast cheers to 2019.  Carrying bad habits create unnecessary weights that can ultimately kill us our journey.  When we continue to allow negative habits to plague our lives, slowly but surely the light at the end of the tunnel will become dim.

Your ability to bounce back

is a testimony for your comeback!

Remember your why.  I’m in the process of planning a new venture, which is why I have not been busy with One Faith Journey.  Please forgive me.  (This is my confession girls) I’m having to make sure that I plan out my days, weeks, and the entire month ahead, including how I engage with you.  There are times where we may fall off the wagon a bit or even a few times due to busyness, family changes, work changes but always remember to find ways to bounce back. Your ability to bounce back is a testimony for your comeback!

As we coast into the 4th quarter of the year, ready to make that touch down, let’s commit to get rid of some habits that can and will hold us back from making the best of 2019.  We cannot, I repeat, we cannot take bad habits into 2019.  You are guaranteed to fail if you don’t kick these habits out the door.

  1. The Need to Please– We’ve all been bit by this bug and for some people this is not an issue.  BUT for those of us that have the bite mark still on us I want to encourage you to quit worrying about what others think.  Quit trying to appease to others.  What others think and want from you does not matter in terms of success.  Now don’t get me wrong, you have people in your tribe who want the best for you. They matter.  But for the naysayers, the questioners, the people who feel they have all the answers.  Bye Bye! You have to determine within yourself that no matter where you are on your journey, other people cannot and will not determine your level of joy.
  2. Stop Procrastination– Raise your hand if  you struggle with this! Me! Burning the midnight oil produces my best work.  For real ladies, it does.  But in reality the procrastination bug creates a sense of unnecessary rush and it takes away from my ability to rest.  My mind starts racing with all the words, work, thoughts, ideas trying to put pieces together as I get closer to the deadline.  When you have a deadline to complete a task, allow yourself some time daily to work towards the deadline.  You’ll walk away feeling more confident and accomplished in your work.
  3. Delaying Actions– The bible tells us to write the vision.  So many times we have written out our vision, given it to God and yet, we are afraid to move forward with our actions.  This fear comes because we want to know the outcome.  In this 4th quarter God wants to put our faith to work.  Pray away that fear and put your trust in Him.  There is no way for us to know the outcome for everything unless He shows us.  Your faith will become stronger if you only trust Him.  Your vision will come pass if you only trust Him.  The best thing you can do right now in this 4th quarter is take your leap of faith (and as I’m typing this, I’m speaking to myself).  When God gives you the vision, put your faith to work and watch God work!
  4. Taking on Too Much– I have to keep talking about this because I hear people say how tired they are or how much they are overwhelmed.  I want to encourage you to stop doing the work for people, stop overcommiting yourself, and stop saying yes to things that may take you away from your God-given tasks, tasks that will bring Him glory.  For example, I had to press pause on some tasks at church.  But it’s the work of the Lord, Tamika.  You’re right.  However, my first ministry is at home and when things became overwhelming in all that I was doing in church ministry, home became a second priority and that is not how God calls us to lead as mothers, wives, friends, etc. Take heed to the voice of God and allow Him to direct your path so that you know where your “Yes Lord” answers need to go.  For some it may be comforting a friend in need. For others it may be turning down a girls night out to minister to the homeless.  You may be a wife, daughter, leader, church facilitator or whatever.  When God can get the glory out of all we do, we are giving our best Yes.

Will you join me during this 4th quarter to kick these habits out the window? Will you join in me surrendering our fears, our procrastination, our busy schedules and our need to please over to God?

Here is a simple prayer to get us started on our journey toward a successful 4th quarter:

Lord we come boldly before your throne thanking you for your continuous grace and mercy for it is by your grace that we have not been consumed.  You gave us visions for our homes, our families, our businesses, our jobs, our marriages, and our lives because you know the plans you have for us.  Lord we surrender our fears, our need to please, our procrastination habits, and any other habit that may  hinder us we wrap up the year.  We trust that you will continue to be a lamp unto our feet and guide our paths so that we can give our best yes to your will because you deserve all of the glory.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

It’s a faith journey y’all.  We have to be pray for consistency in all facets of our lives so that we can get this touch down into 2019! Feel free to comment on how I can pray with you for a successful year end for your family, your life, your leadership, your business or any area in your life.

Blessings!

Tamika W.

P.S. I’m releasing some goodies this month.  Podcast coming this week & the weekly planner is ready to send next week.  If you are a subscriber, you’ll be the first to get a copy.  If you’re not subscribing do so today.

Goals for the Gold

Leave a comment

#workitgirl

Today I was thinking about my goal-setting habits and realized that I need to refine this habit to be more productive and efficient for my short and long-term goals.  As I was thinking about goal-setting (or my lack thereof lately), I thought about the Olympics.  As much as I love sports, I’m not a fan of the Olympics but this past winter, I was intrigued by the 2018 Winter Olympics for some reason.  You would not believe which sport I watched and kept track of? Definitely not skiing. Bobsledding or as said in the olympic world ‘bobsleigh’.  I’m not sure why I was interested but I tuned in during my morning breaks to catch up or watch live.  I learned so many interesting facts about the sport:

  1. The first push of acceleration is very important.
  2. The pilot and brakeman have to be in sync with one another with timely jumps into the sled.
  3. Flexibility is key as you fit two bodies into a tiny sled. Some on their heels while the driver sits.
  4. Friction can slow you down and cause you to lose the race by hundredths of a second.
  5. The pilot sees everything.  One pilots said he never tells his teammates about what’s ahead and tells them it was a good trip.
  6. Physics plays a huge part in bobsledding. Sledders have to be very careful of their moves to avoid crashing.

So how does this relate to setting goals Tamika? Simple.

1. Pushing yourself to get started on your goals is very important.  The first push propels you; it gets your started.

2. Timeliness is important.  There is nothing like setting a goal to get something completed in a week and you haven’t considered your family, your work schedule, or other things you are working on as well.  Make sure you set realistic goals while considering other tasks on your schedule.

3. When hammering out your plan, be flexible.  If you set out to read daily for 30 minutes and something comes up, find ways to squeeze some time in or spread the extra minutes throughout the week.

4.  What are some things that bring hindrance to your life? Consider the “friction” and find ways to avoid it so that you don’t lose sight of your goal.

5.  This is my favorite one. Who is the pilot in your life? In bobsledding the pilot plays a huge role in the success of the team.  My pilot is God.  He sees everything that lies ahead of us.  He guides our path and gives us what we need to be successful.

6. You have the power to put things in motion.  Just put little force behind it, some motivation that is. We are already in August.  The third quarter of the year is coming to a close soon folks.  What declarations did you make over your life?  What daily affirmations are you telling yourself to push you closer to your dreams?  What goals do you need to set in order to end 2018 with shouting bang?

I know we live in an virtual, online world.  Shopping, chatting, connecting with people are all at our finger tips.  HOWEVER…. There is something about the power of writing.  The formation of the letters as you write.  Write out your goals. The pen, the paper and your brain will connect when you do this.  It’s powerful y’all!

In order to live your best life, you have to stop wishing and start working so take your first step toward your destiny.  Write your goals to win the gold!

Need help with goals for your marriage?  Check out our latest podcast Faith & Marriage: Making Time for Spouse & Self Episode 5.

Need a reality check about your progress? Check out Progress Ain’t Pretty.

Ready to celebrate some successes big or small? Read this post for some ideas/inspiration Celebration Time 4 You! 

Remember, it’s a faith journey y’all!

Blessings, blessings, and more blessings to you!

Tamika W.

30 DAYS OF FAITH

Leave a comment

Keep the Faith

Thank you for your support!  Before our July freebie expires, I wanted to give you an opportunity, if you have not already, to download and save the 30 Days of Faith devotional calendar.  You can start this devotional at any time.  I hope you are inspired to keep the faith while diving into God’s Word for faith inspiration!

30 Days of Faith Devotional Calendar —–>>>>> Click Here

Remember, it’s a faith journey y’all!

Blessings,

Tamika W.

5 Steps to Finding Your Why

Leave a comment

I love this topic of finding our ‘why’ or our purpose!  Why? Because everyone has a purpose.  It has been destined before the beginning of time.  We all have a reason that is often bigger than what we think or believe about ourselves.

If you’re feeling a little stuck in figuring out the purpose of your idea or finding your purpose at all, check out these few steps to help you along the way.  And if you’re feeling stuck, you can listen to Episode 3: I’m Stuck for some encouragement.

Because we serve an awesome God, remember, you are destined for greatness!

4 Steps to Finding Your WHY-1

 

As I Look Back, I Can Move Forward

1 Comment

July 19th Blog Post-1.png

We are creatures of habit, often looking back over the years at our losses and gains.  How we let go of friendships, but gained a closer circle.  How we let go of bad relationships, but found a closeness with ourselves.  How we lost a battle, but renewed our strength.  I too find myself looking back at some losses but counting my blessings as I move forward.  Life is a continuous journey of learning and growing.  Without this process, we would be like the tree planted but not bearing any fruit.

I recently went on a family vacation to the beach and can I be honest?  I didn’t think about anything related to my blog, podcast social media posts, products, services, etc.  NOTHING! Sometimes you just have to turn it all off.  The weather forecast called for heavy rain and thunder but I thought we left it at the beach.  When I hit the interstate, I could see the storm ahead and it didn’t look anything pretty.  I began to slow down and just pray.  It was that bad.  The wind was howling and the trees were bowing to the ground.  The rain poured so hard I was unable to see.  Cars were passing me full speed ahead but I drove at a steady pace and I just kept whispering Jesus’s name.  What felt like an hour only last 10 minutes.  As I drove out of the storm, the sun broke through the clouds and as I looked ahead, it looked as if the interstate didn’t even encounter a storm.  I looked back in my rear view mirror, and I could see the storm behind me.  One by one cars came out of the storm behind me unharmed. The roads were clear. No water. No debris. I made it through the storm.

The Lord reminded me that my storms are just like the one I described.  On this journey called life, there will be some days we can see the storms coming ahead.  We must keep our minds on Jesus the entire time.  No matter how hard the wind blows. No matter what other people are doing in their lives to pass you by. No matter if there are times we cannot see what lies ahead.  If we keep our minds on Jesus, like it says in the scripture, He will give us peace.  Have you ever seen someone who was in a fight?  Their hair is a mess, clothes all tattered, they are out of breath.  A hot mess I’ll say.  Job 23:10 says “He knows the way I take and when He has tried me, I will come out as pure gold.”  When the storm is over, it won’t even look like we’ve been through a storm.  But we have to keep our focus on Christ. We have to tune our ears, eyes and heart to His words and His promises. I learned a long time ago that I can make all the plans I want to but it is Christ who directs my path (Proverbs 16:9).

I looked back in my rear view mirror and I believe God was reminding me of what He brought me through.  I didn’t look back like Lot’s wife, with a desire to return in my heart, for I had no desire to turn around but it definitely was a reminder that God keeps His promises:

  • He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6)
  • He delivers us from our afflictions (Psalm 34:17-20)
  • He supplies all of our needs (Philippians 4:19)

It’s ok to look back at the storms God delivered you from so that you can praise Him and be prepared for the future storms He’ll carry you through.  The old song says “count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings to see what God has done!”

On this journey, we will all encounter storms.  Call His name. Stick close to Him. Praise Him.  He will deliver you! How will you honor God, our sovereign Creator, when you look back in order to move forward? I would love to hear some testimonies and praises! Feel free to share!

Remember, it’s a faith journey y’all.  No matter where you are in life, you must have faith!

Tamika W.

PS. I’m excited to announce our Episode 5: Faith & Marriage-How to Make Time for Yourself & Your Spouse.  We will have a Q & A post on our social media outlets Friday so make sure you are following us @1faithjourney on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram to participate.

 

Every Mom Longs for Peace

1 Comment

Have you seen the commercial where the mom packs up everything, walks out the door and forgets the kids? I love that commercial because it speaks to the everyday mom. I know our days can be rushed, frazzled, and not enough time to do all that we have to do. We spend so much time making sure the bills are paid, the clothes are folded, the snacks are packed, the children feel loved, the team feels appreciated that we often forget about us. Our plates are indeed full. If you haven’t read that post, I suggest you go back and read it. Click here >>>>> Your Plate is FULL. Please Tell Them No.

As the week comes to a close, I want to remind the busy moms to chill for a bit.  Unrush your life, honor your time, and enjoy you. Now some of these may sting a little bit but I want you to envision some peace in your life. Kind of hard I know. After all, what would your household be without you. We live zombie, chaotic lives with little sleep, brooms in one arm, keys in our mouth, work bags around our necks, hubbies holding our hand, and little ones tugging at our hearts for attention.

Seriously, to be our best, we have to invite some peaceful times in our life or else our best self will be a complete mess. Doing these things will give you time to meditate, get clarity, and chat with God. The word of God tells us to cast our cares on Him and the peace of God will guard your heart and minds in Christ.  I know this to be true.  I’m sure you do too.  When we spend some time in His peace, we rest in knowing that all else will be cared for by our Heavenly father.  Be sure to take these steps and honor some time for yourself.

Remember, it’s a faith journey y’all.  No matter where you are in the hustle of life you must faith!

honoring mommy time