Life – Deidra Deandra

TV: Divaz Next Door – Be Intentional

Divaz Next Door with Andrea & Alida

Over the past months, I’ve been praying for opportunities to share and influence others using my testimony and life experiences. Today I got to share on a local show in Belize called Divaz Next Door. Divaz Next Door is a live show that discusses various topics targeted at “women and the men who love them.” It airs every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. on Plus Television (based in the Capital City – Belmopan).

It was such a joy to be a guest on today’s show! We talked about being intentional about life, no matter what negatives may have happened to you. I got the opportunity to share a bit of my testimony, something I’ve not done outside of a private group. I touched a bit on life after being in a traffic accident and also discussed the effects of being raised by a single parent. God has really turned my situation around from a life of low self-esteem and a pity-me mindset to living beyond my circumstances and focusing on the legacy I want to leave. I’m ever so thankful for this opportunity to join these two inspirational ladies on Divaz Next Door and I’m excited to join them again later this month. Check out the recording of the show below.

Divaz Next Door Belize - Deidra Deandra

Related Topics: TV: Let’s Talk About “The M Word”

Give Joyfully!

Last week a story on my Facebook feed caught my attention and I’m so glad I took the time to read it. A friend from my church posted a testimony of how God is working in her life and I asked her to share as an encouragement to followers on my blog. She writes…

Give-Joyfully-deidradeandra “So, I have to brag on GOD…
About 8 months ago I found a piece of property out by family/church. I started praying over it every time I drove by and claiming it as mine. Well, a couple months ago, God SUPERNATURALLY provided the money for a down payment (awesome!) and I began the buying process. We agreed on a price and after it was surveyed 3 acres became 4 1/2 at no additional cost to me (super awesome!). I had my closing cost money saved up and ready to go then God told me to give that exact amount to a specific person. I did so joyfully and without hesitation. Today I went to sign paperwork and the seller leans over to the lawyer and says “Ya know what, just waive the closing cost on this one.” !!!!!
I mean, is God not awesome!!! HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL TO ME AND ALWAYS PROVIDED!
Now, I’m just waiting on a buyer for my house and I know His timing is always perfect.‬”

So my friends, I encourage you to be joyful in those times when He tells you to make a sacrifice, give your last, do without… He is always working in the background, your blessing might be right around the corner; so don’t miss out on the blessings God wants to pour out in your life!

Do Something You Don’t Enjoy

I DON’T LIKE AMUSEMENT PARKS

I don’t like roller coasters. I don’t like spinning rides. I don’t like falling rides. This weekend I went to Magic Springs. I don’t like amusement parks.

One of the girls in our youth group invited me and another youth leader to go with her and a group of her friends this weekend to celebrate her 16th birthday. I don’t like amusement parks. Out of my mouth popped an excited “Yes!” but I don’t like amusement parks.

IT WAS SUCH A GREAT TIME! I watched them go on a few and joined in on some of the activities. I don’t like amusement parks, but I sure do love young people. We stood in one line for 2+ hours and it was the greatest time! magic-springs It wasn’t deep Bible talks, but it was real life moments. By the end of the day we were having little one-on-one moments with a few of them and really got the chance to advise them on different situations. Josh Barnett said once as we prepared for a High Point Summer Camp, “If they’re not laughing with you at the beginning of the week, they won’t be crying with you at the end of it.” I watched this play out in just one day. We laughed all day but in them having fun with us, they opened up to us more.

Don’t be waiting around to be a leader at a youth conference, or to catch a young person after a powerful youth group service. Do what they do; be where they’re at! Ezekiel 3:15 says, “I sat where they sat.” I don’t like amusement parks.

9 Year Old Gives Up Presents for Her Birthday

hope-for-el-salvador5 This weekend I got to design a birthday banner and few other items for a 9 year old’s birthday sleepover. Catherine-Grace’s energy level was at a max and she used just about every word that meant “exciting!”

She loved the decor! I’m assuming though that it was because of all the pink. There was pink EVERYWHERE; quite a norm for little girls. However, what was so different about her party was this little girl decided to forego presents for herself and instead, asked all her friends to bring gifts for kids in El Salvador. A special part of her birthday sleepover was dedicated to sharing the importance of giving and then packing boxes for Hope for El Salvador’s Christmas Shoebox Drive.

hope-for-el-salvador1 hope-for-el-salvador4 hope-for-el-salvador3

It was so great to be a part of it as I watched the joy in all the girls as they did it. They were so happy to know that some girl in El Salvador would be getting a present and note from them. There is so much I could say to give you an encouraging “what are you doing with your life” message because of what Catherine-Grace did, but I’ll let it speak to you in its own way.

Check out Hope for El Salvador’s Christmas Shoebox Drive video on Facebook to see how you can give.

Let us change the way we do Christmas… and Birthdays!

Okay With Today

Okay With Today Everybody’s ready for the next phase in their life, the next step, the next season. No one’s as excited about yesterday as they are about tomorrow. We have lunch plans with a co-worker or a dinner date with our spouse. We plan the mess out of our lives and we forget that our time… isn’t ours.

This time we spend on Earth is borrowed time. It isn’t ours and it was never intended to be ours. We are called to make disciples, further the gospel, bring His will from Heaven to Earth, love the sinner and hate the sin, help the widows and care for the orphans, be fishers of men. All of these tasks are a TODAY event. We have today. We have to use it to HIS benefit. Not to make another dollar or up our weights in the gym. While these things are enjoyable and clearly necessary to live a long and healthy life, we can’t let them steal our focus from what we’re really here for… His divine purpose.

He loves us. He knows the ratio of oxygen to nitrogen we need in our air to be able to breathe it. He knows the car we want, the job we would rather have and the number of days we’ll be here to experience all these things. All He asks is to make our days count. While sitting on your couch eating potato chips and surfing the channels isn’t the worst thing you could be doing with your very small amount of time, it isn’t the best thing either.

Get up. Move. Wave to someone. Smile in the direction of…everyone. Show the world around you that there’s more and they can have it. Show a little love today with your time. Make the world a brighter place because YOU are in it. Be okay with being alive today and make the most of it. Show Him to the world and watch Him do the rest.

Word Over Work

WORK WORK WORK

I woke up early this morning, prayed, rolled over 1 or 2 times, then took a shower. I got dressed and plopped behind my little makeshift desk in my room, ready to get to work. Then my notifications went off reminding me of my various morning devotions. So I let go of the mouse and started to read. I felt immediate guilt.

SNIPPET // Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, August 29:
DEMONSTRATE your trust in Me by sitting quietly in My Presence. PUT ASIDE all that is waiting to be done, and refuse to worry about anything. This sacred TIME TOGETHER strengthens you and prepares you to face whatever the day will bring. The world is so complex and overstimulating that you can easily lose your sense of direction. When you spend time with Me, I restore your sense of direction. As you look to Me for guidance, I enable you to do less but accomplish more.

WAIT

Waiting Before Working – An Act of Faith
I’ve been doing and doing, “working after working” (you know what I mean?) to build Deidra Deandra. That little reminder in my devotion this morning was right on time. It’s not anything I don’t know; I just got caught up in my own strength. I’ve been slacking in my time with Him and had to give myself a check this morning. All the wisdom I need for not only my business, but my life, to write blogs that are real (and not just “another blog”) come from Him and to keep it that way I need to spend more time in His word. Waiting before working and putting Him first in your day is a crucial step to a successful day.

I wrote a piece on plans yesterday filled with Proverbs and today I end with another one, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3).” My message to you: Stop relying on your own wisdom and strength to get things done. FIRST, Commit WHATEVER you do to Him.

We Can Make Our Plans BUT..

We can make our plans..
BUT The Lord gives the RIGHT answer. (Proverbs 16:1)
BUT The Lord determines our STEPS. (Proverbs 16:9)
BUT The Lord’s purpose WILL prevail. (Proverbs 19:20)

I don’t know what He’s doing but I’m about doing what He’s doing. Over the past year I’ve realized that there’s really only so much planning we need to be doing. The first time that reality hit me (Ms. Planner) was like seeing a pig fly before my eyes; it was a LOT to take in. Today however, I have found that He’s really good at it. Go figure! 😉

I don’t need to know every detail (melancholy). I don’t need to make all the plans. “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? (Proverbs 20:24)” I thank Him for bringing me to a place where I find calmness in that scripture when years ago, it would have caused worry not being able to understand what’s next. It’s not easy hearing God say quit your job and GO. Say what? But I did and… I have to save that for another blog. 😀

Tonight as He pushes my plans aside, once again, I recite one of my favorite scriptures: “The Lord says, ‘I WILL GUIDE YOU along the BEST PATHWAY for your life. I will advise you and watch over you (Psalms 32:8).'”

Whatever God is doing in your life today, let Him do it! He wants GREAT for you, so want it bad enough to entrust your life, plans, agenda.. your everything to Him! Leaving my “dream job” was one of the best things He had me do. You never know what He has in store for you. Don’t be the WHAT IF person; give Him the reigns!

Obstacles are but for a MOMENT

Kaina Martinez

Obstacles are but for a MOMENT… Remembering Kaina Martinez
Two years ago, 26 year old, Kaina Martinez made Belize very proud when she placed 2nd in Heat 2 of the Preliminary Rounds of the London 2012 Olympic Games. I can remember the joy for Belizeans when with a time of 11.81, she proceeded to Round 1 of the Women’s 100m. Her photos flashed across my Facebook news feed as Belize cheered her on. One of such posts said, “Always proud to be Belizean… but with the Olympics… I’m positively beaming right now [K. Almendarez]!”

I share this as a little encouragement to remember the victories you’ve had. Problems won’t always be and obstacles are for but a moment. Don’t lose focus on what’s ahead of you! Kaina had to jump many hurdles; however, she kept her focus on the finish line ahead. One of her favorite quotes is,

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God [Corrie Ten Boom].”

It’s all in His hands! We hear it all the time but we must never let ourselves be deafened by our problems and obstacles.