So, I just finished filming a really good movie called GOOD DEEDS. It’s me like you’ve never seen me before. It comes out in February, brace yourself. There were a lot of long days on this shoot, so I wanted to take a break. I decided to do some traveling and since I still have 20 more pounds to lose before I start my next movie, ALEX CROSS, I thought I would go to the Grand Canyon and do some hiking, climbing and so on. At one point in the climbing, I was over a steep drop and was tied to a safety rope, while a buddy’s safety rope was tied to me. It was my responsibility to help him up, since I was bigger and weighed more. I told him, “I’ll hold on to you to help you up but if you start to pull me over with you, I’m going to untie this rope.” We had a good laugh about it, but I was serious…
I started thinking about that moment a few days ago. How many times are we tied to a person, people or things that are pulling us down and we won’t untie the rope? For whatever reason, be it family, friends, society, or just the feeling of being obligated, trapped or that if you don’t, no one else will. I have watched so many people go over a cliff with a person that they are trying to help up, it’s sad. YOU MUST UNTIE THE ROPE!!!
This is your life and you are wasting it being tied to someone who is destroying his or her opportunities and yours. If the person that you are trying to help does not know that they are worth being saved, how do you expect them to put any value on you saving them? You’re not worth it to them. They can’t get it! SO YOU NEED TO! Listen to me, untie the rope and don’t lose yourself trying to hold on to someone who can’t survive on your level. You hear me? Maybe they have gone as high as they can go. Just because you can survive on that level doesn’t mean that everyone else can. Stop trying to help them, UNTIE THE ROPE! I know you may feel this is cruel, but what is more cruel is dying a death that’s not your own. Letting your destiny go to hell because someone else pulled you there. Are you kidding me? That isn’t God!
Here is what I have learned over the almost 20 years that I have been in this business. Let me tell you, I have seen and worked with some of the most talented people you can imagine and I used to wonder why they never got any higher than they are. You know, the kind of people who always seem to be at the door, but never can go in. It used to blow my mind until I got a revelation from God.
For many years I was the same way, I would get close and things would fall apart. I couldn’t get any traction, not in my career, not in my personal life and not in the pursuit of happiness. I just couldn’t move forward. Through much prayer and self-discovery, I found out that I used to be, notice I said “USED TO BE,” a self-saboteur. I would find a way to subconsciously destroy every good thing that was in my life and I didn’t even know I was doing it. Most self-sabotaging people don’t know that they are doing it. I don’t think there is anyone sadder than a person who blames everyone else, but themselves for their situation. The very revelation that I was causing my own problems was one of the greatest blessings God could have allowed me to see. Once I realized the behavior, I was able to change it. That is why my life is in such a great place right now. I realized that my very thoughts were keeping me from being successful at everything. “So, as a man thinketh, so is he.”
Many times a lot of us sabotage subconsciously because of what mamma or daddy said, traumatic childhoods or any number of things that happened growing up that made us feel that we shouldn’t have or that we didn’t deserve it. I’m here to tell you all, that misinformation was wrong. You do deserve it! You are worthy of it! For me, knowing that Jesus died and rose again makes me know we are all worthy.
Why am I saying this? I’m just tired of people being upset with people who have realized their dreams. The only difference in someone who is living their dream and someone who can’t get it to come to pass is they don’t feel they deserve it. They don’t feel they are worthy of it. So many of us have dreams, dreams that the world is waiting for, talents that will help heal and change nations, but we keep destroying our own successes. I know for a fact that if I had not figured this out, you wouldn’t be reading this email right now. Nor would I be a happy soul.
The world is waiting for your gift. Give it to yourself and you will give it to them, but first you have to UNTIE THE ROPE.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Flowers say it all...
My husband, my bestie, my soul-mate, my help-mate, my lover, my soul-provider, my knight-in-shining- armour, my voice of reason....oh I can go on and on,but all I can say is, "I love you" and "Thank-you". He remembered the simple things, like my favorite flowers GERBER DAISIES! THAT SAYS IT ALL!
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
God can't use me
The next time you think God can`t use you, just remember...
Noah got drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Issac was a daydreamer, he had A.D.D.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a speech problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Samson had long hair & was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah & Timothy were too young.
David wrote poems(some thought he was not man enough),later had an affair, and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt and lost EVERYTHING.
Peter denied Christ not once, but 3 times.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
Mary Magdalene had 7 demons.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, five times and was living with a sixth man.
Zaccheus was too small.
Timothy had an ulcer...AND Laraus was DEAD!!!
Now, no more excuses! God can use you. Besides, you are NOT the message, you are just the messenger.
Noah got drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Issac was a daydreamer, he had A.D.D.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a speech problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Samson had long hair & was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah & Timothy were too young.
David wrote poems(some thought he was not man enough),later had an affair, and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt and lost EVERYTHING.
Peter denied Christ not once, but 3 times.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
Mary Magdalene had 7 demons.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, five times and was living with a sixth man.
Zaccheus was too small.
Timothy had an ulcer...AND Laraus was DEAD!!!
Now, no more excuses! God can use you. Besides, you are NOT the message, you are just the messenger.
OPRAH said WHAT!?
Oprah said, today, "People always look at their poop" Her topic was, "ARE YOU NORMAL?" I was not grossed out by the comment, but figured many woud be offended. I thought it would grab some attention and it did. I got some phone calls from those who thought it wasn't necessary to post it. I got a few messages about how Oprah is not a christian and how I should not quote her. Well, it just so happens that I like Oprah's show, I think it's often informative. As far as Oprah, herself, I have come to see her as a Human, not a black woman, not a democrat or republican...I identify her as a human, part of the human race, a creation that God made, one of His children. God's word says we are to love one another, pray for one another. He didn't say to judge one another. I do agree with the song from Casting Crowns when they say, "What if God's people turned to Jesus and stopped asking Oprah what to do?" Maybe God made Oprah knowing she would be a venue to inform us, but also knowing she is with sin. He also knew she wouldn't be perfect.
God has laid something on my heart, if it offends you, take it up with God, I make no apologies when it comes to Him. I am not perfect, nor do I claim to be. I am not angry with anyone. With that being said, here is what I feel lead to share:
We are TOO judgemental. Christians, we are the worst. Most of my "Christian" friends are the most judgemental people I know. It's time for this to stop. The Word of God says, in Matthew 7:4-5, "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." We are not honoring God by passing judgement on each other. We do it so often that we don't even feel convicted. We get angry when someone suggets we are being judgemental. It has become okay to judge however we please. My kids say, "It's a free country". I respond, " No it's not a 'free' country. It cost lives for our freedoms." So yes, we have freedom to say what we want, I am using my freedom right now, however, God's word says, "those without sin, cast the first stone." In other words, none of us are without sin, none of us are perfect, we haven't any right to judge others. John 8:7 says "And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
How many of you would like it if this is what I said to you..."I can't believe you would go to a football game, paint your stomach & face, dye your hair the colors of your favorite team when it's 32 degrees outside. You are crazy! And then you scream your head off at people who can't hear you and wonder why your hoarse the next week? Why spend all of that time and energy, and the money? My goodness, did you even tithe last week? Did you even go to church? Why did you spend that much when you can't even pay your bills? Your priorities are all wrong." Many of you would NOT be slow to anger (as God's word instructs us in James 1:19" My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry") and would tell me exactly what you thought... some of you would never talk to me again. Some would ask what gives me the right to say this? I have a job and you don't, I pay taxes and your on public assistance, I am a christian and you are not, I am your friend and it's my place to pass this judgement, or how about this, I need to point out all of your faults to mask my own. Is there really a good response? Not in my heart there isn't. God is asking us, "who gave you the authority to judge?" He commands us to love.
I am judged because I am too radical. Too radical for Jesus? Come on, we can paint our bodies, scream at the other team, and pay out too much money, but we can't get excited about Jesus? And those of us who are excited about Jesus, are we loving each other? Are we speaking to each other in love? Are we passing judgement on one another? Are we holding grudges and denying forgiveness?
I want to love people where they are and love them just the way they are, sin and all! I want to speak truth and speak it only in love. Ephesians 4:14-16 says, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. I want to be slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen. These are the actions I am going to take. Will you join me?
God has laid something on my heart, if it offends you, take it up with God, I make no apologies when it comes to Him. I am not perfect, nor do I claim to be. I am not angry with anyone. With that being said, here is what I feel lead to share:
We are TOO judgemental. Christians, we are the worst. Most of my "Christian" friends are the most judgemental people I know. It's time for this to stop. The Word of God says, in Matthew 7:4-5, "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." We are not honoring God by passing judgement on each other. We do it so often that we don't even feel convicted. We get angry when someone suggets we are being judgemental. It has become okay to judge however we please. My kids say, "It's a free country". I respond, " No it's not a 'free' country. It cost lives for our freedoms." So yes, we have freedom to say what we want, I am using my freedom right now, however, God's word says, "those without sin, cast the first stone." In other words, none of us are without sin, none of us are perfect, we haven't any right to judge others. John 8:7 says "And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
How many of you would like it if this is what I said to you..."I can't believe you would go to a football game, paint your stomach & face, dye your hair the colors of your favorite team when it's 32 degrees outside. You are crazy! And then you scream your head off at people who can't hear you and wonder why your hoarse the next week? Why spend all of that time and energy, and the money? My goodness, did you even tithe last week? Did you even go to church? Why did you spend that much when you can't even pay your bills? Your priorities are all wrong." Many of you would NOT be slow to anger (as God's word instructs us in James 1:19" My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry") and would tell me exactly what you thought... some of you would never talk to me again. Some would ask what gives me the right to say this? I have a job and you don't, I pay taxes and your on public assistance, I am a christian and you are not, I am your friend and it's my place to pass this judgement, or how about this, I need to point out all of your faults to mask my own. Is there really a good response? Not in my heart there isn't. God is asking us, "who gave you the authority to judge?" He commands us to love.
I am judged because I am too radical. Too radical for Jesus? Come on, we can paint our bodies, scream at the other team, and pay out too much money, but we can't get excited about Jesus? And those of us who are excited about Jesus, are we loving each other? Are we speaking to each other in love? Are we passing judgement on one another? Are we holding grudges and denying forgiveness?
I want to love people where they are and love them just the way they are, sin and all! I want to speak truth and speak it only in love. Ephesians 4:14-16 says, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. I want to be slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen. These are the actions I am going to take. Will you join me?
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