Watch Your Life Bloom

Welcome to the Official Blog of Author Dr. Lily L. Ratliff Jenkins, of the inspirational Memoir, The Life of a Lily: Growing in His Strength, Blooming in His Love, and many other writings.

Thanks for coming by to sit awhile and reflecting along with me on everything biblical. On this blog, feel free to share your thoughts and feelings about the various topics I present. They all do come from the heart and are meant for us to ponder, be enlightened, laugh, cry, and ultimately give God all of the praise.

You will hopefully find resources on everything from writing tips to creating your own memoir, how to journal, becoming better Christians and how to walk in your callings, destinies, and witty inventions that we have deep inside of us but sometimes don't quite know how to tap into and walk in. But GOD! It is in his wisdom along with an open mind that we will get through this together. Amen! So I welcome you my brothers and sisters!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Where are your eyes focused?

This gave me a great sense of encouragement today. I hope it does the same for you. Where are your eyes focused? You should keep your eyes on the Prize! Enjoy and be blessed!



Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
Deshawn Snow


Action is fierce.
Action does not give up.
Action prepares you for opportunity.

One of the most common vision killers (and joy stealers) is being distracted from the action you’re supposed to take. When you take your eyes off of Jesus and what He’s placed in your heart, your strength will fail.

Romans 12:4-8 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

In other words, stay in your lane. Do what God has placed in your heart to do, and let others do what’s in theirs.

Another common dream killer is failing to tap into the anointing and power of God. Romans 8:19 says that the whole creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughter’s of the Most High God. That’s you and me. The same power that raised Christ from the grave is available to you and I today. We have to tap into that anointing and power. Not just tap into it a little bit, but let our entire lives be influenced by God’s anointing.

Don’t block your anointing by trying to do everything in your own strength. As God’s children, God’s anointing is available to us all, but it is up to us to invite Him in to help and strengthen us. Sometimes we let our own guilt and shame keep us from seeking God’s anointing. This is ridiculous. God loves us all equally, and no one is more entitled to God’s anointing more than another. The Bible says that once we ask for forgiveness, all of our sins are on the ocean floor. We can’t let guilt keep us from flourishing in God.

Be careful, though. You can have incredible vision, purpose, scriptural knowledge and more; but, if you do not forgive yourself once God has forgiven you, you will not be able to completely fulfill your vision. Avoid these other vision killers, too: thinking someone else can do it better, fear, lack of drive, insecurity and jealousy.

We get to come to the Father daily and give him all of these issues. He, in return, makes us able to overcome. The Bible is clear that our spirit man wages war against our flesh. This isn’t an abnormal thing. This is a daily thing! But the stronger we get with God, the easier it is recognize when our flesh is fighting us.

God wants to enlarge your tents, so to speak. His plans for all of us are huge, and He wants to see us enacting them. Get in agreement with Him, daily fight your flesh, and let Him use you. You’ll see your vision becoming action, and your action become the opportunity of a lifetime!

Here are just a few reminders to keep you on the path toward your destiny:

• Don’t be distracted from your God-appointed action.
• Stay in your lane. Don’t try to direct someone else’s actions – focus on your own.
• Use God’s strength. You don’t have enough of your own to create real action.
• Give all of your personal issues to God.

A motivational speaker, television personality, and philanthropist, DeShawn Snow lives in the metro Atlanta area with her husband-NBA player Eric Snow and three adored sons. A socialite-turned-servant, Deshawn is studying to earn her Master of Divinity degree. For more information about Deshawn, log onto DeShawnSnowEnterprises.com or DeShawnSnow.com/Blog

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

How Lily Ratliff Blossomed After the Rain




I'm really excited this month! I have been blessed to be radio interviewed and featured on the cover of Faith-Filled Stilettos Magazine! Please check out my feature story and my Secret Sistah Confession on this month's issue of Faith-Filled Stilettos!

Post your comments either here or on the website!

Be Blessed!

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