Invitation Declined

I went to a faith based singles retreat this past weekend. It was truly an amzing experience. I was in the woods and got to spend some real quiet time with God literally retreating with Him. I had felt so flustered and confused with life because I had allowed overcrowding and noise to tune God's voice out. I wasn't consistent with praying, reading my Word or spending time with God as I usually did. I was more emotionally led, snappy and frustrated with just...everything. It was a mess.

These 4 days away with God in the midst of endless woods was just what I needed to clear my head and get back on track with my relationship with Him. I came home feeling so enlightened, happy and at peace with the world. As soon as I stepped back in Boston there was something there waiting for me to get me upset. See a family member (who shall be remained unidentified) called me and was fussing about having to pick me up from the airport. Mind you, they have no reason to be fussing. They could have called me and had a regular conversation asking me whatever question they needed to ask me and that would be the end of it. This particular relative though, likes to fuss just for the sake of fussing and it...drives...me....up...the...wall.

As they were fussing on the phone, I could feel my calm, peaceful and retreated demeanor starting to stir and leave my body. I could feel my eye squinting, my blood boiling and my temper start to flare up as I was just about to shout at them for fussing at me for no reason. I then heard a word placed in my spirit that I had read time and time again on social media by Heather Lindsey and Kim Pothier "You don't have to accept every invitation to an argument. Guard your heart". I decided in that moment that I was not going to let the devil use this situation to steal my joy. I was going to pass this test. So instead of popping off at the mouth (which I think was deserved), I instead opted to simply answer the questions in a calm and soft tone and get off the phone once the conversation was over. Was it hard? Heck yeah! I was on the phone squeezing my eyes and hands so much to control myself. Was it worth it? Totally. But:

Proverbs 15:1  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger

 Use every opportunity to approach a situation the way Jesus would. Pass the test

xo 

Tasha

#SeedCheck

Have you ever seen a cantaloupe seed? Like a singular seed? It's so very SMALL. It's hard to believe or even fathom that it will grow into this huge fruit, but indeed...it does. While staring at the seed one day the Lord dropped something in my heart about seeds.

We take the size of a seed for granted, especially when it comes to sin. We have been called to live a life that is holy, to represent Christ and His Holiness. That's hard, trust me. We are battling with our flesh everyday. As we battle, sometimes we allow small seeds to pass through because we don't think it's a big deal.

Scenario:
You are a young Christian woman who is living a life of celibacy. You've made it quite some time now and are extremely proud of yourself. All of a sudden you end up in the bed, staring at the ceiling after 5 minutes of pleasure with a guy beside you. You just had sex and wonder, how did this happen? How did I let XXX months/years of celibacy go down the drain so quickly?

Standing in the Atlantic Ocean in Jamaica- December 2013

Truth is, you didn't "suddenly" end up in that bed with that man/woman. Small compromises started to happen that you dismissed as not significant so you'll allow it. It's not a big deal. You're talking to this person (whether text or phone call), the conversation is good until you start to entertain them calling you or allowing the conversation to happen at inappropriate hours of the night/early morning. (You can define what inappropriate is. For me inappropriate is anytime after 10 pm). Compromise 1. The more you talk, the more you become comfortable and at times the conversation will slip into inappropriate sexual conversation. No big deal, it's just talk, I'm not doing anything. Compromise 2. You decide to hang out by going to the movies where it's dark and yall are alone with no accountability. Compromise 3. He takes you home afterwards and you invite him into your house (it's already late) to talk. Compromise 4, what are they doing there? You guys progress to your room (for whatever ever the reason may be). Compromise 5, what are you doing?! A gentle kiss on the lips. Compromise 6. And then you fall...and it seems so sudden.

Now this scenario might not happen to everyone exactly as I have presented it but this is just to show what I'm talking about. We compromise ourselves every single time we allow one of those small seemingly insignificant seeds to pass through. But seeds grow and they turn into something. I've been told that I'm being extra by telling a man not to call me after 10pm or while in conversation with a man and 10 approaches I start to wrap that conversation up. I'll be extra because I don't have the time to entertain the risk of falling hard. I encourage you to be extra. Guard your gates. The devil doesn't play fair and will use any opportunity to make you fall.

Make sure you do a #seedcheck every day. What have I allowed to be planted around me (whether spiritually, physically, verbally, emotionally). If there is anything that is not of Christ, uproot it immediately. Aint nobody got time for that.

xo
Tasha

My first day back home. Headed to the market. Jamaica-December 2013