• I've learnt to grow through hard times and joy
• I've learnt to accept my flaws : stretch marks ; breasts and beauty spots
• I've learnt to love and accept nothing in return but give everything
• I've learnt to fight clean ; fight hard and win
• I've learnt to lift myself up and re affirm who I am in the world
• I've learnt to lean on others and allow then to show me myself in them
• I've learnt to cry and not worry about my makeup or showing weakness
• I've learnt to pray ; to call on GOD and hold on to the faith I've grown
• I've learnt to walk away when the passion is gone and not try to make it live when its dead
• I've learnt that some friends are not friends and when their season is over to let it go
• I've learnt that my values are different from others and that is what makes the world
• I've learnt to cook meals I only imagined and cook them well
• I've learnt that love does conquer all and even I deserve a fairytale
• I've learnt that I am the woman I am and nothing can take that away from me
• I've learnt that some battles are not worth the fight because the person in the fight is not worth the fight
• I've learnt that people are different and disliking someone is better than pretending to like them
• I've learnt that when you care it will hurt a little but go ahead and care anyway
• I've learnt that ambition is your dreams calling out to you in a loud voice
• I've learnt that the sun shines and no one can stop it from being glorious
• I'm still learning and growing and loving and disliking and smiling and cooking
• I'm still learning ...
 

There is a test for everyone who has ever clinged to "Thus says the Lord"...
After we pray, receive our rhema word, and step out in obedience, things may actually get worse before they get better! We expect a quick response or resolution of our problem, but instead the problem actually becomes magnified!" Have you ever like Moses, & me (lol) been tempted to doubt the word God gave u? Often standing on God's promises involves more than we bargained for.

Friends this is a gospel, many do not preach or even want to hear. Many of us prefer to hear the "name it and claim it" gospel. It is here, now! Grab it, take it, take it, take it!
But the real truth and my experience has been that we must go through the process of the testing of the word for faith to work its true rewards in our hearts. Like Moses, Joseph, Chipo (lol) when it seems like the word of God is being tested, when the winds are contrary, we must cling to the word of the Lord, despite the adverse circumstances we see around us. Ignore the mocking voices or circumstances, whether external or internal trying to contend for the word within your heart. Remember instead the psalm which talks about Joseph: Psalm 105:18-19: "They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in thorns; until the time that his word came to pass.
You see my friends, many breakthroughs are not instantaneous and instead they place us in the refiner's fire. This purging process is meant to rid us of self-dependence so that our faith will remain solely in God. It deepens our surrender to God's will, and refines our self-indulgence so that we can walk in holiness. It brings us to the place, where we have to go past natural hope that is dependent on what we see, know or feel to supernatural hope, which we have by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. The same faith that Abraham had the hoping against hope....the standing inspite of all odds!

Written by Chipo

A woman’s guide to getting it all done – Without losing her sanity

We women are masters at piling too much on our plates – over-committing because we can’t say no – and then feeling guilty because we didn’t get it all done. That’s just plain crazy, and frankly, it’s exhausting just thinking about it. And as women we wear many hats and put our juggling skills to the test. If we’re going to get it all done it’s essential to marry a little good-old-fashioned time management with much needed boundaries. After all TIME has become one of the most precious commodities of our time.

Let’s get real for a moment …

Yes, you’re super-woman, and yes people are counting on you, and yes you’re a master at juggling and getting stuff done. But if you want to actually have a life – and enjoy it – time boundaries MUST be employed. They’re for you (so you don’t dive into the pit of overwhelm and exhaustion) and everyone else (so they know what to expect and what not to expect from you). Some suggestions …

•Establish the “closed-door” boundary – when your door is shut it means “do NOT disturb” under any circumstances unless it’s an emergency. “I can’t find my keys” or “I’m hungry, can I have a soda” are not emergencies. This is for quiet time when you want uninterrupted time to focus.
•Establish the phone, email, cell phone, internet boundary – these are time suckers, and left unchecked, your day will slip away on you. This boundary is really about you and how you manage your time (more about that in a moment). Technology is helpful and can simplify our lives, but it can also be a time-trap. Calls can be returned, social media updated, and emails sent at planned intervals throughout your day.
•So let’s talk about planning …Planning will liberate your time. It will create structure in your day and help you focus on what’s most important and needs your attention. Simply put, you’ll get more done. Some people think structure, systems and planning are confining but that’s just not true. There’s room for flexibility in planning, and you’ll quickly learn what works best for you. Believe me, you will find yourself getting more done in less time and having a lot more time to enjoy other things. The 3-step plan to getting it all done …
•The week at a glance – take 15 minutes on a Sunday for planning. What are your goals for the week? What projects do you have coming up? What absolutely must get done? I like to identify a main theme or project for each day of the week because it helps in chunking down the tasks that need to be done. It also helps to laser-focus blocks of time rather than jumping between right and left brain tasks.
•Block your time - block out periods of time each day to work your to-do list. Have writing to do? Block a period of time to get it done. You’ll be surprised how much you get done when you give yourself a specific period of time to complete a task. And, you’ll soon develop your own rhythm, identifying when you’re most creative and energetic. This method is also a real time-saver for email, social media, and returning phone calls. I block out time for this twice a day – towards the beginning of my day and early afternoon.
•At the end of each day, review and course-correct – did things take longer to complete than you initially thought, are there items on your to-do list that didn’t get done? If so, reschedule important items to the next day, making them a top priority. If you’re on track, review your next day so you’re ready to jump into your day in the morning.A few other tips …
•Practice goal-based planning. If it’s not moving your toward your goal, drop it or delegate it right away!
•Use lists. You can’t focus when your to-do list is in your head. Write it down and prioritize to get things done.

It’s so easy for me to get caught in the rabbit hole with out managing our time effectively!!!