Remember: You Are Not Entitled To GOD's Blessings

I received another gift yesterday unexpectedly. It was a planner that I really needed. GOD provided it through someone, unexpectedly, out of the blue, again. It was a complete surprise. I'm really grateful for it. It also occurred to me yesterday that I've become so used to GOD blessings, that I started to feel entitled to them.

I had to repent. We are not entitled to the blessings of GOD. The Lord owes us nothing. People owe us nothing. So when GOD and people, when GOD through people show us kindness, we should be extremely grateful, and try our best to remain that way. We can even find ways to express our gratitude by attempting to help them with whatever they need.

Honestly, thinking back on all the ways that GOD has blessed me and provided for me unexpectedly, just like the scripture Psalms 2:11 reads; I was in awe of the Lord and moved to show great reverence to my Provider. Praise GOD from whom all blessings, provision and protection flow!

Cheers to a prayerful day,

- April B.
BreathofLifeDaily.com

Motivation Music Playlist ft. Mary Mary, Kevin LeVar and More

Go Get It - Mary Mary 

"It's like You lookin' through a telescope you see where you gonna be Growin' gettin' better you're not the person they see. Can't be mad at the things you've been through, 'cause they built your muscle. Now you're stronger than you've ever been, they can't stop your hustle

Yo faith ain't never small that's what brought you this far
See you got your dreams and you got your prayers and you got you God. He gonna take you there, See everybody has a season and I've believe this one's your's. 'Cause you've been working, waiting, this what you've been praying for Go get it!"

GOD has given you the vision, it's up to you to be BOLD and execute it. Like the meme says " The dream is Free, The Hustle is sold separately."

Your Destiny - Kevin LeVar & One Sound

This is not a time to get distracted. . . No no no
This not a time to go off course,This is not a time to lose your focus, You got a work to do for the Lord, And you cannot afford to lose your way
You've come to far from where you started from, So please don't let the time you've sown Be wasted on things that you'll later regret, Wishes you never had Once your realize it wasn't worth it, Your destiny is too important to give up for anything.

Your destiny and purpose is way more important than anything that tries to distract you. Stay Focused. Stay Faithful.

Nobody Like You Lord - Maranda Curtis

"Oh Lord, Our Lord How excellent Is your name, Your name is strength, Your name is power A strong tower, Makes me safe, Oh Nobody like you Lord. . ."

Acknowledging that GOD's name is strength and power, empowers us. We are made strong in GOD's power alone. "But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected inweakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladlyin my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me." Who wouldn't serve a GOD like that?!

Listen to these songs by Mary Mary, Vashawn Mitchell, Jekalyn Carr and more on the BOLDJournal Motivation Music Playlist https://spoti.fi/2AOV2hW

What are some songs in your playlist that get you motivated and help keep you focused? Let us know in the comments section or mention us on Instagram and Twitter: @BOLDJournal

Speak To Your Mountain

It's extremely easy to feel the pressure of a tight situation when you're surrounded by it. Trying to keep up with bills, get out of debt, and live a productive life can get heavy sometimes.

It's important to practice gratitiude every day, because everyday we get to see is an honor in itself. If you haven't been through much, consider the fact that everyday is a gift, Some people no longer have the luxury of life.

This morning as I was driving (another blessing), the pressure of entrepreneurship and freelancing life almost got me down. That often happens when we're focused on what we see as problems, and not on GOD. Just at the point when I was about to go into a familiar "worry, panic, woe is me mode" I thought about everything that GOD has brought me through and over in my life. My whole attitude changed. If we think back on all the times made a way for us when times get rough, theres no way we can stay in a place of worry, regardless of any situation.  

After all this,  a familiar song that I love came to mind: "For Every Mountain" by Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers. This song is so powerful! For Every Mountain you brought me over, For Every trial you've seen me through, For Every blessing... for this I give you praise. 



Then right after that song got stuck in my head the podcast I listen to by Dianna Hobbs came across my phone and happened to be named: Speak to this mountain. The coincidences of GOD are always timely! So I just wanted to share that no matter what struggle you might be going though, have faith that all mountains can be moved and give the fight over to the mountain mover!

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“Truly^f I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them." - Mark 11:22-23

Make it blessed day today!!

3 Ways To Move Forward In The New Year Successfully

by: Ruthann Mckenzie

Are you ready to move forward?

Moving forward to the new year should be something greeted with great expectation. Whether the year was a wonderful one or there were bumps in the road, there is a new start with the new year.  You can begin the steps to making a change prior to the new year. Yet, it is good to pause and reflect on what to make better for the next year.

How can you make the best of the upcoming year? The following three things should be taken into consideration with 2015 right around the corner:

• Recognize the value of time. Time is so important and we need to leave behind wasting precious moments on irrelevant things. Enjoy living in the moment and see the value in each day. Make the most out of each year, month, week, and day.

• Do not remain bondage to the past. Whatever painful situation that has happened this year or years ago can be let go of. Our memory can be used to focus on where the Lord has brought us from versus remembering all the hurt. Pain is inevitable in this lifetime, but misery is optional. You do not have to remain bondage to the past. Resolve to let that go as 2014 comes to a close.

make a new start, with a new year...

• Create clear priorities for your life. It does not take any set time of the year to realize what is important to you. However, when a new year approaches it is time to take inventory of your priorities and establish what is important and why. Practice utilizing your time wisely from the start of your day, establishing what takes priority.

These skills can be useful moving into the new year. Continue creating awesome vision boards and defining clear goals for how you are moving forward with your life. If you are ready to start fresh and not sure where to start, then check out Just Be Confident and how coaching and mentorship may be able to work for you. Make 2015 your year by moving forward!

Ruthann McKenzie is the creator of justbeconfident.com where she blogs and coaches others to be confident and live victoriously. Follow her updates on Facebook and Instagram:@theconfidentyou 

How To Develop A Winning Attitude

By: Ruthann Mckenzie

I am what I speak...

Sunday afternoons are typically my unwinding time to relax with my daughter and watch a movie.  Not really paying attention to the Olympic games, but remembering the huge buzz about Gabrielle Douglass, I decided I would watch her documentary.  It was definitely uplifting and motivating.  Even though I knew the end of the story, watching all that led up to her gold medals made the movie amazing.

There are a few points I took away from watching the story of this young ladies life.  I will share them below:

You are what you speak.  Her situation may have looked hopeless, but she was filled with hope. She spoke and believed her vision.  Even when others around her doubted, her speech was filled with life.

Have a grand vision for your life. This is no time or place to dream small. It does not matter your situation or the obstacles you face.  If you truly want the gold in your life, then you have to envision something so grand, it sounds almost crazy.  If it aligns with God's will, then not even the sky will be a limit.

Have determination and grit.  The motivation and determination of young Gabby made me really think about my own life.  No, I was not born to be an Olympic gold medalist, but I was born to be greatness.  Yet, have I given it my all even when I wanted to quit?  Determination is so crucial in life if you really want to obtain your dreams. It takes a certain grit and soul, a longing, that brings that vision to fruition.

The main theme I consistently noticed in the movie was believing. She believed she could accomplish her dreams and goals so she spoke about it constantly. She placed affirming visuals around her at all times. Her family, her team, and her coach all believed what she knew to be true for herself. You need a winning team to continue winning. Yet, it all starts with you speaking over your life what you see as your vision.

Proverbs 18:21 states, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruits."  So what are you saying about yourself? What dreams are you speaking life into? Do not just let your dreams die and do not speak less about yourself. I am what I speak. I choose to speak life into existence. I choose to believe and dream bigger, because even my wildest dreams are possible with God.

Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone With Power

By: Ruthann Mckenzie

Step out of your comfort zone. What is your comfort zone? What does it look like and feel like to you? Perhaps you are in a comfort zone that you have outgrown long ago. Most comfort zones are created for various different reasons, but most of the time out of fear. Fear is so powerful if you let your mind believe the illusion. At times traumatic things happen to us and we then develop a comfort zone because of it. That can be okay to cope for the moment, however long you may need, but that comfort zone cannot last forever. Nothing great happens inside of the comfort zone. There are too many limits and restricitions in a comfort zone. It seems that we are only using the comfort zone to make excuses of why we cannot do something that we really actually are capable of doing. 

I know all too well about comfort zones. I lived here trying to hide from life for years. My "comfort zone" was really a hamster wheel. I went around on the same trip over and over again. I disliked what others were doing because they were making something out of their lives. Any progress another person made I envied, yet I unhappily stayed within my comfort zone. My comfort zone was my security teddy that I bonded to after the traumas in my life. I would tell God I wanted this or that and to be moved from where I am. However, I was never willing to surrender to Him and come out of the place of where I was hiding. We hide sometimes in comfort zones. I did not really want to grow or be moved because it was scary. I wanted a relationship, but thought what happened if that person hurts me. I wanted to move out of the state I was in, but what if I cannot find a job in the new state. Something as small as cutting my hair and going natural was a struggle for me because the changes were inconceivable for me. 

There will never be a change that takes place with our comfort zone. It will be the same rut.

Touchdown in your Purpose!!

You can either learn to let go of the fear and step out in trust from your comfort zone or stay there. Where have you ever gotten by staying in your comfort spot? Is it really that comfortable? Would you really want to be there? And before you make excuses about why you cannot leave this place you are in, know that God will never take you to a place and not fully equip you. If you really intend to live your life, this short life that you have, then you need to step out of your comfort zone. This may be something different for different people. By no means do I mean go do something crazy, live by the term YOLO or anything like that. No. What I mean is if you want to build a business, stop being scared that no one will like your idea when you never even started. If you want to cut your hair, then go for it you may like it. You want a relationship, then get out and meet new great people out of your circle (that one was directly for me and who ever needs to wear that shoe)...Stop living in your past and your comfort zone at all times. 

So where can you start with coming out of your comfort zone? 

• Have courage.  Start small, start large, but start somewhere. If you take one step forward out of your comfort zone and become scared have courage that you can overcome that thing.  Greatness is on the other side.
• Stay in tune with your instincts.  You know what you truly need to do. You hear that voice on the inside that is pushing you, but you stifle it.  Listen and follow your instinct and heart.
• Be smart and make good decisions.  You will know what you are suppose to do and when. Making good decisions will get you out of your comfort zone.
• Encourage yourself. Get scared and overcome that comfort zone. Speak good things over your life and you will see the changes manifest.

If by all means you must stay within your comfort zones, then stop complaining that you never get anywhere. At times we are called to leave our past and comfort zone behind, but we are too busy holding on to it that we refuse to hear God telling us to release it and trust Him. We do not like to surrender it all and leave the place that is comfortable in fear that we will not like the new.  If you never are never willing to let go of what is familiar, then how will you know if you will like the new or not? Again, nothing great ever happens within a comfort zone. What opportunities or dreams are you passing up because of remaining in your comfort zone? Maybe it is time to move into the realm of where the magic happens and leave your comfort zone behind!