Not a long list of New Year resolutions - just remember to feed your heart well with whatever your passion may be. So, grow your passion - nurture it, share it, enjoy it and make your heart soar!
2018 – grew into The Year of the EMPOWERED Leader's Heart!
Because, no matter the title, position or age; we all lead (influence) in some way.
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Happy 2019 - The Year to
RAISE - THEM - UP!
Not a long list of New Year resolutions. Feed your heart well, be different, be better and do more to raise up the hearts you love, the hearts you care about, and the hearts you lead.
This Tuesday Morning was not the usual Tuesday Morning - this Tuesday we celebrated our Savior’s birth.
This Tuesday morning, somewhat unusual as it started before sunrise, as my husband, Freddie Ford had the honor of delivering the Christmas message to Greater Bethel Baptist Church in Irwinton, GA starting at 8:00 a.m.
His message was the common Christmas theme centered around Baby Jesus’s birth, but this morning Minister talked not only about our Savior’s birth, but the Savior’s parents, Mary and Joseph.
He spoke about the bewilderment and amazement young Mary must have felt, a mere child to learn she would be the Savior’s mother. And, Joseph, who God had already betrothed to Mary, a Godly and obedient man, and not just any man, but a descendant of David.
Minister Ford emphasized how Joseph might have felt, from a growing appreciation of the young virgin with child to the significant responsibility and honor of parenting Baby Jesus, the savior of the world.
Minister Ford spoke about John the Baptist, saying he was only a bit older than Jesus, but he was vital in the glorious story of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.
Minister Ford said God, The Father orchestrated the many pieces of our Savior’s birth. He said there is talk that December 25th is not the actual date of Jesus’s birth, but he said that was not important to him - what is important is that our Savior was born.
Minister Ford said the story of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus is such a familiar story, and instead of rehashing the same story, he wanted us to see the great depth of God The Father and his love for you and me.
He said, Jesus was willing to strip Himself of his Godly citizenship in Heaven - to come to earth as a baby to complete the plan that God The Father created to save His creation from their sins. Jesus left royalty and abandoned the glory he had with The Father for us – to give mankind a way to escape the wrath of God that will come upon all children of disobedience.
Minister Ford concluded with a resounding Jesus, Jesus, yes Jesus is the reason for this season.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
Our Heavenly Father gave us a very special and unique gift - AHeart!
Knock-Knock - Trick or Treat?
Knocking on the door to your heart,
the infamous Trick or Treat.
Now, when you open the door:
Do you trick your heart by not appreciating your own strengths?
Do you trick your heart by competing with and envying others?
Do you trick your heart not tending to it every day?
Do you trick your heart believing you can change someone else?
Do you trick your heart doing the same thing over and over, but hoping for different results?
You are in control of treating your gift of a heart to the best. So feed it only the best life offers to blossom a love so awesome, so powerful, and so contagious, it spills over touching everyone you meet.
So, do not choose a costume for a once yearly event, because the best costume you can ever wear, one you never remove is your well-treated, well-used and well-loved HEART!
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Katallage Minister Freddie Ford speaks…
Maybe the real question - Is Halloween a trick or a treat? We must always watch the trick of the enemy. In the final analysis, you can trick your heart into believing all the foolishness that the world throws at us or we can accept the freedom that Christ offers us by treating our heart with the truth of God’s word.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind with FREE?
Could that first thought be what’s the catch?
Oftentimes, we find FREE comes with strings attached.
Sometimes FREE is peddled as a great value and then, we may find it was not valuable to us at all.
Now, what if FREE had no strings attached? What if FREE had the wherewithal to add value to your life in many ways? What if the FREE is something you can revisit to inspire, motivate or brighten a moment?
Like many, I fantasized about being a world-class best-selling author, but when those feelings surfaced, reality stepped in and asked, “what will you write about, and who would care?” When my daughter received a dramatic breast cancer diagnosis, eight women stepped up and said "we'll be there until she is completely well again".
The women, I called my daughter Angels became an extended family with their gifts of time, money, heart-felt prayers, and so much more. They were there for whatever was needed. When my daughter started getting better, these Angels continued their earthly watch. After much thought and prayer, I decided to express my thanks to the Angels in the form of a thank-you letter. This was the start - the thank-you letter to the Angels evolved into my first published book. The tiny book, "Thoughts Influence Power Snippets", had a huge message about the power of our thoughts to activate hope, healing, and love. My daughter's thoughts became her mantra, "Dear God, one day at a time to survive; one day at a time to thrive".
Writing for a living, for the money is not what I am about. I sincerely believe it is my purpose to share my heart with others. It gives me great satisfaction when hearts are warmed and loved by my written words.
Today, ten years later, my daughter is good. The Angels continue their love and care. And, I cannot envision myself not writing and creating to motivate hearts - my own and the hearts of others.
Now, this is what is so special about Angels. I viewed the women as my daughter’s Angels, but they were also my Angels. They helped me discover my life calling, to share my heart with other hearts.
So, always be on the lookout for your Angel. Now, they may not look as you may expect, so be good, be kind and be thoughtful to everyone, as you may be in front of your Angel right now…
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