Test the Waters: Living Life with No Limits!

Often times, a bright idea pops in our heads and we look around      like some magical character is going  to jump out and show himself  as the culprit of that idea.  It's Amazing that we forget the idea

was not presented by accident, there's a reason why we thought it in the first place.  It is God channeling us to think big and venture out to do more in life.  But how many of us take our thoughts seriously and pursue the ideas that have been instilled in us?  Do we doubt our abilities of achieving great things in life? Or do we fear the price of rejection and never try at all?  

Well, let me be the first to say that if this was a multiple choice test, I would choose option 'D' - all of the above.  Most of my life was spent living in fear, with self-doubt, and afraid of being rejected.  Instead of taking a chance or risks, I'd play it safe and protect my feelings from getting hurt.  Perhaps the hurt I've endured in my life kept me from trying - so I didn't.  For many years I've allowed great opportunities pass me by, simply because I chose to live cautiously instead of just giving life a chance. How does one break the barriers that stem from the negative occurrences?

It isn't easy but admittedly, it definitely is achievable.  Until one day, I had an inkling to do something spontaneous.  So, I decided to test the waters in certain areas in my life and see what results I’d receive.  The results were indeed amazing but not surprising.    

The first attempt at faith was to post my resume to several online job sites but chose Florida as the location.   I wanted to test the waters and see what happens.  This was the beginning of a wonderful journey to do things in 'faith' and watch faith work in my life.  Although, I started with one job site, I was confident that I would receive a response about an opportunity.  And did I ever!   

The day after posting my resume online, I received an email from a company who was interested in

interviewing me for a position in my field of Technology.  The job included relocation expenses, a great salary, benefits and more.  Although, I really wasn't looking for another job, I wanted to take a 'leap of faith' as everyone says and see how it will work in my life.  There were many more opportunities that followed since I debuted my resume online.  In addition, since that experience, I've been taking a chance in other areas in my life.  Many doors have opened for me and great opportunities have presented itself in my life thus far.  I now realize that I was limiting myself from the possibilities that life has to offer.   

I wanted to share my testimony because I know many of you have the same mindset.  Not realizing your full potential, living a mediocre life, allowing fear and doubt to decide for you.  Sometimes we analyze things too much.  We are the cause of confusion in our lives.  Instead of giving it a Go - we give it a No!  Nothing in life is perfect, but we will not know what doors will open in our lives if we do not try. 

 

If you're still in doubt and need encouragement to get you started in living a life with no limits, here are a few principles that helped me along the way: 

Believe - we can't do anything in life unless we believe.  Believe in yourself, in God and in what

you want.  "All things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23 NLT

Pray - The bible says, 'you have not because you ask not'.  Well, there you have it, start praying

and ask God to open doors in your life.  “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” Luke 11:9 (NLT)  

Take Action - Take action and do something.  We can't expect to accomplish things in life if we are not willing to do the work.  God will do his part if you do your part.  Start by writing goals and follow through with them.  We are responsible for the actions we take in our lives.  Be a doer!  

Have Faith - Do everything in faith.  It's amazing what can happen when you do things in faith.  The possibilities are endless.   

"Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be Strong."

I Corinthians 16:13 NLT

 Start today to live life with no limits!  And test the waters for yourself.

 

 

 

Love is the Greatest

I promised myself that I would not revisit my past, unless I was writing about it.  As I decided to write about Love and how it has changed my life, I realized that this is a great opportunity to revisit my past and share my own testimony.  My hope is that you can understand what Love has done for me and apply what you read and learn into your own life. 

Recently, I’ve been reading a book that speaks on how to apply Love in everything we do in life.  Regardless of our circumstances, we should apply Love in it instead of frustration, anger, resentment, and any other negative feelings we may experience.  Reacting in either manner can lead to negative results in our lives.  It’s called living in Strife!  We must keep strife out of our lives to live a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life.  In order to achieve this, apply love instead. 

As a child, I clearly remember the many days and nights I dreaded being home with my family.  It was difficult surrounding myself with love, when no love was given in our home.  I was too young to understand what love was let alone give it to anyone or anything.  Due to the lack of love I received as a child, led to countless bad decisions, days of misery, and a list of insecurities within myself.  I often felt that I was a mistake and was not meant to be in this life.  It’s sad to admit but it is how I felt in those years since it seemed that nothing positive was going on for me.  Although, I have some happy memories of my childhood; they are far and few in between.  There were more unhappy moments then happy ones.  But with hope and faith I imagined that one day I’d be free.  So, here I am – I surpassed it all!    

It’s clear to me today when I reflect on those years that the reasoning behind my misery and unhappiness is that our parents didn’t show love to each other and it reflected on the entire household.  A household without love led to numerous arguments, resentment, dishonesty, secrets, disrespect, and the list goes on.  My siblings and I did the best we could to make sense of it all but it was truly a battlefield of survival.  For many years to come, I struggled with my own identity.  I was merely trying to determine how I’m suppose to fit in.  As I continued to read the book, I decided to ask myself a very important question.  “How am I suppose to show anyone or anything love if I never had it myself?”  

Through many heartbreaks and bad relationships I now stand tall and am fully aware of how great life is when you experience Love.  For some it may mean to feel loved, but to others it’s the gift of showing love.  When you show love; you receive it.  It’s that simple.  And you do this by realizing that you have love to give, so you are ready to receive it. 

In fact, it’s impossible to love anyone if you do not love yourself first.  I’ve heard this many times before and had not clue what it meant until now.  You must allow yourself the time to heal from the bad experiences in your life to feel the love you have within you.  This gives you the opportunity to deeply fall in love with yourself.  It is then that you are prepared to give in the form of Love.  Once you’ve been able to get through that hurdle, you will experience the windows of opportunity  that Love can provide in your life.  

I encourage you today, if you’ve struggled with accepting and loving yourself due to past hurt, please release it and set yourself free from it.  It is time for you to finally set yourself free and humbly accept the free will of Love.  Every experience in life helps us learn and grow.  When we learn and grow, we are given the ability to move forward.  Apply love in every aspect of your life.  You will experience a major transformation in your life.  What I’ve learned through this process is that we all have control and power over our lives.  We do not have to live in agony any longer.  Choose love and watch your life improve drastically.  Love is not a feeling we feel for each other; it’s so much more. 

Here’s the biblical meaning of Love:

I Corinthians 13:4-6

1If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;^a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages^band special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.^c All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 

Make everyday count – have a blessed and productive day! 

~Vicky Valdes

Wake up – It’s Time for Breakfast!

Every morning when I awake I sit on the edge of my bed and thank the Lord for allowing me to see another day. I then prepare myself to take a shower. My shower consists of my gratitude checklist. I close my eyes and allow my gratitude checklist to pour over my face to awaken my mind and spirit - just as a shower in the morning would normally awaken me.

Each day my gratitude list is different. Some days my gratitude list includes my health, senses, my job, my car that provides me with daily transportation, my family, wonderful friends, colleagues, and the list goes on and on from there. We all have so much to be grateful for so it’s not very difficult to compose a gratitude list even a mental one. It’s a wonderful way to start your day and you will see your day flourish from there.

Once I’m in my car driving, I start to pray. Some days my prayers are focused on my morning travel and sometimes my prayers may last the entire drive. It all depends on what my spirit calls me to do. What’s important is that I’m still giving thanks and showing my gratitude through prayer. When I arrive at work, I immediately log into my computer to get my day started. I then pull out my book of Our Daily Bread and read the scripture of the day.

These all consists of my very own ‘spiritual breakfast’. A great way to start my day! I am aware that with having my spiritual breakfast it will provide me with the nourishment I need to have a productive and blessed day. Some people drink coffee because the caffeine helps them wake up and give them the energy they need to get their day started. Well, the same goes with my ‘spiritual breakfast’. It gives me the boost I need to get me going daily. Without it my day can go in various directions - but I choose the direction of a positive path.

I encourage all of you to do the same. When you wake up in the morning, say to
yourself, “It’s time for breakfast!” And take it from there.

Make everyday count – have a blessed and productive day!

~Vicky Valdes