Keep Moving Forward

Sometimes I wonder why people are so amazed by my life but then I remember that the things I have now I really used to pray for, dream about, spend countless nights awake just sick of the way I way living because I knew that it wasn’t the life I was meant to live.

I grew up poor, of course the stereotypical black family with a few extra mouths. There were 15 of us. At one point we all lived together in a 2 bedroom house in California. We experienced rats, roaches, stayed up all night scrubbing just to get permission to continue living in our section 8 provided home. We used to stand in line at pantries and other community centers to filter through used clothes and shoes for back to school shopping, Christmas gifts and food. Still it seems we never had enough.

This created in me at a very young age a vision of what I wanted my life to be like for myself and my children. I used to run from “being like my mom” because I thought it was all her fault following the divorce and the big move from California to Nebraska, but as I grew up and learned that the welfare didn’t just begin after the divorce it was there all along. I guess it was just overshadowed by all of the love I felt being with my family, or maybe I was just too young to know what was going on.

One thing I do know is that life was hard. Now I have children and though we live nothing like we did back then there are still times I struggle as a parent, wife and an individual. I think of all the things my mom did to provide us the smallest of things. She did the best she could with what she had and what she knew. I just want to say  “Thank you, Mom!” We made it through because she didn’t give up!

I’m so grateful for my husband, our children, and our home. We get to do daily what most people only dream of, but I’m more grateful for the assignment we’ve been given. I like to say we are here ‘on purpose and for a purpose.’ My husband and I without knowing it have motivated so many people just by doing what we feel is expected. But what we are doing is something that’s actually NOT normal to some people we have come into contact with. You couldn’t tell the 10 or even 18-year-old me that this would be my life.

The glory isn’t ours though! In this last year we have both found God, discovered our purpose, started businesses and built on our faith. It’s been a hard journey so far, but we don’t lose sight of what God wants us to do here so we keep going!

And the beauty of it all is God’s not even CLOSE to done!

I used to feel bad for wanting more, but I don’t anymore because God is calling me to do more. I used to feel bad about the light God gave me and how it makes some feel uncomfortable but I don’t anymore because I know God is reaching the people he needs to reach through me. People may look at my life and say I should be satisfied but I’m not, Ive very grateful and I thank God everyday but HE is calling me higher and I will continue to chase after Him and the desires He has given me.

Now, for a real moment of truth: Lately, I’ve been feeling stuck. Business is on the up & up for my husband but for me, business did not take off like I expected it to this year. I know that when he wins I win, but when it comes to my desires it seems like all I have left is doubts, anxiety and hopelessness. Im starting to question my purpose and if this is still what I’m supposed to be doing.

Thankfully, I got a message right on time from Dr. Martin Williams at Ambassador’s Worship Center here in Omaha with his new sermon series ‘UNSTUCK’ (Sidenote: It is really crazy how God sent me to a church that literally ALWAYS speaks to the current situations in my life.)

Here’s the link to the sermon:

https://www.youtube.com/live/FzvQC3expJE?si=jjr5exRp5tfGzJst

He uses the story of Job to lay out the steps of getting out of the place of complacency in Job 22:26-28 one of those steps are doing what you promised you would do. Dr Martin asks the question, “What did you promise yourself?”

I thought back to the schedule I made myself at the beginning of the year. It started with a workout and a prayer every morning but I did not implement it. It also created the lack of too much free time in which I would work on business goals and gaining the tools, skills and knowledge to prosper.

I know I lack discipline and that is something I pray for all the time, but I thought that being obedient and starting the business would get me to the next level. God had already laid out everything I needed to succeed but it’s my own personal problem of not keeping promises to myself that’s been holding me back, not God’s lack of coming through and sending things my way.

So I’ve accepted his challenge to be unstuck by September 1st. I don’t know if I will do it tomorrow or the next day or on August 31, but the promise I am re-making to myself and God right now is that I will pull out that schedule, rewrite what needs to be changed and start following it one day at a time until it becomes a habit. My prayer is that by the end of this year I will see the growth in my business that I was expecting when I started The Eve Effect in April!

I invite you to take this challenge with me as well. First, take some time to think of the promise(s) you have broken, ask yourself “what do I want?” because God gives us the desires of our heart so we can fulfill His purpose. Acknowledge and worship God for who He is and what He has done. Then, in prayer declare what it is that you want and ask for help to follow through on your part. (Psalms 37:4-5)

Lastly, just keep moving onward and upward. My prayer for you is that in the next few weeks, you too will be back in motion!

Be encouraged and remember to do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:14)

Love, Eve