When You’re Going Through Tough Times - Prioritize the Promise

We believe God - Point Blank - Period. Sometimes God resolves our issue quickly.  Other times there is a delay.  We believe God to do what He promised but often there is a process to getting the promise.  You still have to meet with the principal about that wayward child, you still have to meet with that unfair boss, and you still have to get painful treatments for that condition in your body.  It’s in the process – the daily dealing with the ramifications of a promise as yet unfulfilled – that we often despair.

Hebrews 10:35 AMP says “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward”

The enemy attacks our minds and tries to convince us that God is not going to do what He has said.  In times like these we need to double-down on our faith and say like Job “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!”  At first this seems like a hard saying but I believe what God wants us to understand from it is that to Job’s natural man it “felt” like God was slaying him because of all the calamities that he experienced.  It doesn’t feel good to experience the death of your livelihood, your children, and your health.  It’s painful, heartbreaking, and frustrating all at the same time. But Job was able to draw on his faith reserves and his spiritual man was able to say “yet, will I trust him!”  Job was able to admit his pain – but prioritize the promise.

We must do the same.  Recognize the pain and frustration of dealing with your situation but prioritize the promise of God that “All things work together for the good of those who love God and the called according to His promise” (Romans 8:28). Prioritize the promise that “God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). Prioritize the promise that “No weapon formed against me shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).

This is what we must do.  Talk to ourselves and say “Self, I don’t like that I have to deal with these issues right now but, I trust God enough to know that whatever He is doing through this situation is in my best interests in the end.” That’s Prioritizing the Promise!

Be Blessed & Encouraged!

Tonya

West Coast Week 2 - Los Angeles

Last October I was blessed to attend my first AdobeMax Conference.  I'd heard about from co-workers who when in past years but nothing could do it justice.  It was 6 days of digitally creative bliss + lots of free "good" food.  There were sessions covering almost every Adobe product - Photoshop, Illustrator, Muse, Dreamweaver, Premier, & more. There were concerts and parties at night and creative activity stations to do cool stuff like make your own t-shirt or stamp.  It was a blast!  The lovely gentleman in the King Henry VIII costume is Adobe's Sr. Creative Director Russell Brown telling us about one of the projects we would be working on in the pre-conference. The magical lady in green is my final project printed 8ft. tall.

It was held in Los Angeles and it was my first time visiting LA.  I had very little free time but I was able to accomplish my only sightseeing goal - driving on the Pacific Coast Highway.  I drove from Ventura to Oxnard and I was really thinking that the really scenic parts would not be on this stretch.  Boy was I wrong.  Once I got past Malibu there were times when it was just me, the road, and the ocean. I cannot really swim but I LOVE the ocean!  I could sit on the beach and listen to the waves forever.

The conference was downtown so was my hotel.  I was on the 22nd floor I think.  Here are photos taken of the views.

On my last night there we drove up the mountain thinking we were going to see the Hollywood Sign only to discover it's not lit up at night.  This view of the City of Angels was worth it anyway.

Be Blessed & Travel as often as you can!

Tonya

Studio Dreams

If you're an creative entrepreneur trying to build a business with a limited budget it's all-to-easy to forgo things like magazines.  I want to encourage you to think differently about this magazine - Where Women Create Business Jo Packham of Stampington Press.

At $15.99 list price it's not cheap but I consider it an investment in my own personal development.  Every issues is a peek into the lives of women who have leveraged their creativity and combined it with hard work to build profitable businesses that allow them to live life on their own terms.  This is one of my goals.  Each time I flip through the pages and read their stories I receive motivation, inspiration, and education.  Each time I read an issue I am moved to affirm "Lord if  you can bless these women to live their creative dreams, you can bless me too!"

Invest in yourself!  Whether it's an inspirational magazine, creative conference, or a trip to the spa to rejuvenate your body.  You are your best investment.

Be Blessed

Tonya