Building Wealth

As we are now in the month March we can say that almost a quarter of the year is done already! I don’t know about any of you, but so much seems to be going on, and all at the same time! If I’m honest I have been fighting to maintaining mental clarity. Thankfully I get to re-listen to and edit my podcast “The LittleRose Podcast.” The topic for week’s episode was the  “FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out.” I have to say recording podcast episodes on a regular basis you can forget what was discussed. Having to listen to them again for editing purposes helps me to fully benefit from what was discussed. It is my desire to not only create content, but to also grow and learn from the content I create. As I record weekly podcasts and work at my church two days a week I am still pursuing other employment opportunities. I am currently awaiting a response from another company regarding a part-time job. I have actually been waiting for a response from this company for quite some time which leads me to wonder if I ever will receive one. Nevertheless the delay had given me time to work through my mindset on being an entrepreneur. 

Daily working towards building my brand/business has forced me to look at the way I think and how my current mindsets limit my advancement. When you have spent so much of your life thinking and believing a job was the sole avenue to build a life and accumulate wealth launching out into the unknown as an entrepreneur can really be unsettling. Thankfully yesterday at church I was reminded of what the Word of God says in Deuteronomy 8:18.  It says “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” The book of Deuteronomy is a book of instruction, caution, warning and encouragement for the children of Israel. They were about to the cross the Jordan river and possess the promise land. This was the very land the Lord swore to give their ancestor Abraham. The Lord was reminding them that it is “I”, the Lord your God, who is giving you the power and ability to lay hold of the promise land and produce wealth. He was letting them know He would bless the work of their hands as long at they continue to put Him first and honour the covenant He made their ancestor Abraham. 

As I read this scripture it is rather difficult for me to conceive that wealth can be build through an idea or any type of business venture I choose to pursue. The stability of a paycheque eases the inner turmoil of having to face the unknown, even though I know nothing is a hundred percent secure. Needless to say my faith is being stretched! You hear of people having a idea and building a multi-million dollar company or at the very least a successful small business. I am praying to God for vision regarding my business. I know no one who has ever built a successful business. No one in my family has ever achieved anything other than job. No one in my family has ever build anything or produced wealth, yet God is positioning me to do just that! 

In this season of great change I have to be committed to learning new things and unlearning old ones to be better equipped to build the business God desires for me. I will continue to share this process with you all although it is immensely stretching, and at times overwhelming.

I pray reading this encourages you to seek God for vision and ideas that will propel your life and finances to the next level.

Blessings,

LittleRose 

P.S.

If you haven’t already make sure you check out the “LittleRose Podcast.” The link will be listed below.

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-littlerose-podcast/id1710258821

The Way Up is Down

As we inch closer to the end of 2023 there is an anticipation. I am strongly compelled to prepare my heart for what God is about to do. Making strides to be prepared is of the upmost importance. In an effort to do this and remain on track I am taking a Foundational Teaching Series offered in my church. Through reorienting myself with fundamentals of my faith the Lord is teaching me so much about myself. With each class I survey the landscape of my life. So many years of struggle and many hard lessons have been learned. At one point I had given up hope that it would ever change. It always felt as though I was destined to a life of hardship, trial, and nothing else! Thankfully this is obviously not the case. God is about to release a measure of blessing on those who are seeking His kingdom and that are willing to humbly posture themselves to receive.

James 4:6 (NKJV) says “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The Holy Spirit recently reminded me that in the Kingdom of God it is through humility one make their way up. Humidity is the way to promotion and blessings. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) encourages us also by saying “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” The blessing is coming. Promotion is coming. The abundance of heaven is about to be poured out, but will we have the character to manage it well. These are the questions I have been asking myself as of late. It is my prayer that both you and I will handle the blessings of God with great care and reverence.

I recently started recording episodes for a podcast I am launching on October 10th (which is next week!!). I originally had the idea for a podcast in October 2019, however I felt to put on hold until now. It is something I believe God has placed in my heart to do. It is my prayer and deepest desire that you will be encouraged, challenged and empowered through this podcast. It will be available on Apple and Spotify. Make sure to check it out!!

Continuing to pray for you as you seek His Kingdom 

Blessings

Littlerose

Abuse Of Power

Since I have had all this time for reflection and introspection it is been very interesting to see what has come to light. As the sifting in my life continues (and I am sure in yours as well) I have become more increasingly aware of how my body responds to fear, anxiety and things that are perceived as potential threats. Not that I did not notice it before, however I more increasingly aware as of late. As we have all recently seen more and more images of police brutality it reminds of the times where I felt the weight of the misuse of power. It is something I have regularly experienced. Over the years God has given the courage to stand up against the Abuse Of Power. With it came immense emotional upheaval, nevertheless the Holy Spirit was there to help navigate me through it.

I have never experienced police brutality. The fear of having a gun pulled out on you is something I can not even begin to comprehend. The truth is when my life was in jeopardy and my safety was at risk the police were there to protect me. I know for many they have had a different experience. I, however, have had other individuals abuse their power over me. They have put the full weight of their authority and power they were entrusted with up against me as a means to control, manipulate, intimidate, belittle and undermine me as a person. Needless to say those moments have left a lasting impression. So much so that if a situation presents itself even remotely similar I have a physiological response. Just the thought of it can make me feel ill. Brutality is not limited to the police department. For me it came from individuals who were not wearing a uniform or holding a badge. But, there was still an oath love, care, lead and guide, of which it was never fulfilled. The harm caused was just as painful.

Being placed in a position of authority is one thing God takes seriously. Eli sons were judged for how they abused their position and authority they were trusted with (1 Samuel 2:12:36). Eli, their father, was also judged because he failed to strong address and correct his sons behaviour. The power and authority given was abused. Both Hophni and Phinehas (Eli’s sons), and Eli paid the price for their abuse of power. I have learned to trust that God will deal with those you have abused their power. Although we live in a age where is no fear of the Lord God is not asleep. He sees and He knows all. People may live their lives as though a day of judgement is not coming, but when it comes there will be no where to run or hide. Everyone will have to give an account.

Sadly there will always be situations where power and authority is abused and misused. This is an unfortunate reality due to the sin nature, but God is the lifter of our heads. He is the lifter of oppression. Walking through seasons of healing after those experiences has afforded me such valuable lessons. The bible says the things we suffer is for our benefit. Jesus himself suffered. As I look back now although those experiences were immensely painful they taught me things I would not have learned otherwise. God can use your pain to produce wisdom, so when the time comes you can be trusted with power and authority. You will not lack compassion or humility, because ALL power and authority is borrowed. It is be stewarded like money. Using it as if it belongs to you is equally as dangerous as inflicting it on an undeserving person.

Thank you for joining the journey 

Know you are loved,

Little Rose

Truth In The Inward Parts

Have you had one of those weeks where your emotions were all over the place? When you had to pray more fervently just to get clarity? I have had to linger a bit longer at the feet of Jesus this week. There were a fews situations which caught me off guard and that left me deeply unsettled. Although I know, somehow, it will work itself out it has unearthed something within. Needless to say I have written and re-written this blog several times. I grapple through what I feel verses what should be penned out for the others to read. So I am giving you a heads up! What I am about to share may be a little raw, but I know this time of self-isolation God desires to address the deeper issues which concerns us. He is looking for Truth In The Inward Parts.

I recently had to acknowledge my need for external approval and how shaken I become when I am on the receiving end of someone’s disapproval. We all want to be liked and accepted. It is an natural desire, one I believe God has given us. However if the foundation of who you are is not rooted in the Word of God and what it says about you, you can find yourself standing on shaky ground. In times past I have found myself in many situations where I was taken advantage of and endured abuse simply because I did not have the courage to stand up for myself. I was crippled by the fear of potential outbursts, public humiliation, being physically attacked or left alone with no one to rely on. You would be surprised how many subject themselves to horrific treatment simply because they fear public humiliation or being left alone. They fear the shame of being the topic of peoples conversations.

As I continue to live most of my life in doors I am becoming more increasingly aware of how our thought lives affect the quality of our daily lives. This can obviously be challenging when we are presented with problems which brush against sensitive areas or where we already have had unpleasant past experiences. As I watched service online (www.hwc.org) I am reminded how our thoughts influence our emotions, therefore impacting our decisions. This is a time, as I have said before, to take stock of one’s own inner condition. To go before God and co-operate with the Holy Spirit. It is time to CLEAN HOUSE; our spiritual house. 

I cry out to God. I desperately need Him! There is no future without Him in it. I need Him to change me. Every area, past or present, must be transformed. With a global pandemic and heighten racial tension lean closer to your Maker. Filter all your thoughts and emotions through Him.

No clear cut answers end, just sharing what is on my heart……

Thank you for joining the journey 

Know you are loved,

Little Rose

Agree With God

Identity. One of the fundamental things you receive after accepting Jesus into your heart. As you develop your relationship with Jesus and grow in the knowledge of His Word He begins to line you up according to the truth and redefine who you think you are. For me there always seemed to be this never ending accusing, critiquing, and judgemental voice in my head, and like a broken record it would play to no end. It was the background music of my life and I am sure I am not the only one. Little did I know I silently believed what it said, and because of my agreement it continued to play. As I grew in my faith the voice became more faint. There were even days where it was not heard all, but it never completely went away. Recently after a number of immensely stressful and difficult experiences the voice, that used to be faint and barely heard, returned even louder than it had ever been before. As I make use of the time in quarantine God is reminding how He sees me and who I am created to be.

One of the benefits of seeking the Lord and spending time in His presence is you are reminded of who you are. Whether you want to admit it or not we ALL need reminding. We often (more than we realize) willingly trade the truth God has given us for the lies the enemy freely hands out. I was watching this message/workshop and the speaker said “Give God your yes. Come into agreement with who He says you are and what He says you are called to be.” As simple as it may seem it has been a painful process for me; getting into agreement with the Lord. I know I am saved and dearly loved by God, but there was and has been an inner war. A war to let go of the what I was raised to believe, and to reconcile the way I have been treated and process the things I have experienced. Nevertheless letting go of what has been said and done makes room. You open yourself up to receive healing and wholeness thereby giving God the opportunity to move in and through your life.

Another blessings from being in quarantine is you have unlimited time to spend in the Lord’s presence. You almost forget what a wonder it is, and how much one can receive in an encounter with the Lord. Kneeling at His feet and allowing Him to impart His truth to your heart….there simply is NOTHING else like it! My mind goes back to when I was newly saved. Oh how I sought earnestly to see His face! He was the object of my affection. To know Him and see Him for who He is. Through this time I have also been aggressively taking my thoughts captive. For “We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One” (2 Corinthians 10:5 TPT). As I come into agreement with Jesus Christ I win the war against the contrary thoughts in my mind. Through reaffirming my “YES” to Jesus the enemy is defeated. My war is over.

Looking back over the past couple of years a lot has happened. Sometimes you do not realize how much you have lost and the toll it has taken until you sit still long enough to honestly survey the damage it has caused. Although I do not rejoice over those affected by covid-19 this time of quarantine was desperately needed. It is a moment I forever will treasure.  It is preparing me for what is to come, and at the time renewing my mind and strengthening my spirit. I get to deeply drink from the wells of life my Father has laid out for me. As I drink He washes away lingering memories of the past while silencing the Accuser, now and forevermore. I can now move forward free from his constant accusations.

I encourage you to come into agreement with what God says. Give Him your YES and receive the truth about who you are, even if it is only just a reminder! As you do He will silence the accuser and render him powerless. 

You do not have to fight the war alone. Reach out Him today….

Thank you for joining the journey 

Know you are loved,

Little Rose

In His Hands

In a time where we are all forced to be still I have to say I personally struggle internally. Being on my own since I was fifteen and having pretty much raised myself it has always been challenging to wait on anybody for anything. Furthermore, to rely completely on and trust the Lord to follow through with things has always been a stretch in my mind. Although His track record is perfect and I continue to declare the truth of His Word I do wrestle with my flesh. Now with everything being up in the air and all plans coming to a screeching halt I am without anything to do. I know without a doubt that God is up to something, but there a choice to make. To wait and leave everything In His Hands or to “make” something happen on my own.

In 1 Samuel 13:9-14 Saul failed to wait and presumptuously acted causing God to shorten the length of his reign as king. Impatience and lack of faith came at a great cost. To wait on God, trusting Him to move at the right time is a battle of your will. The world tells women “you do not have to wait on anyone for anything” and that “you can do it all yourself.” This is their definition of female empowerment. However this is an incorrect understanding of empowerment. Empowerment is not a matter of self will; a blatantly licence do whatever you please. Saul’s life is proof of that. Real empowerment is relying solely on God and His Spirit to lead and guide you. To turn to Him for strength, instruction and wisdom. Yielding your will to His maybe difficult at times, however it brings unspeakable blessing, peace and joy.

On the heels of making the most of my Mary moments I thought it would be fitting to share this. We live in time where women are given a distorted a message. Nevertheless, the message of female empowerment does hold some degree of truth. Women are incredibly insightful and complex. We possess beauty that goes beyond the exterior. It is our natural instinct to nurture, fostering growth and development in those around us. Sacrificing is in our DNA along with the inner strength enabling us to “will” ourselves to whatever we set our minds to. But there is another side to this. Willfulness is sin and a lack of patience on display. One full of regret and consequences that can not be avoided.

This is a season for great blessing, but it is not without the element of choice. My prayer is we all will take time to wait on God. This time of seemingly inactivity the promise is not lost, it is actually being prepared. Therefore learn from the life of Saul; it is written for our benefit. I for one can not afford to make the same mistake……  

Thank you for joining the journey 

Know you are loved,

Little Rose

For Women By Women

Everybody’s story starts somewhere. We often do not realize how noteworthy it really is until after the fact. We share what we know and understand not ever truly comprehending the magnitude of what God is doing. But as we go along living every day life we step into a new chapter we were never expecting, and that is when it all begins to makes sense. The script changes and hindsight kicks in. This was His plan the entire time. How often do we miss it?  It usually is taking too long for our liking, the process is too painful or it is just simply not working out how we thought it would. Needless to say time is a gift and God is gracious enough to extend it so we can heal, recover and hopefully come around to seeing things through His eyes. And this is where I now find myself; seeing through fresh eyes.

Little Rose was always meant to symbolize the strength and beauty we as women have in Jesus Christ. Little Rose was founded to not only share my personal story, but the one that we as women all share.  A life of faith, hope, struggle, pain, adversity and triumph.  We have all these things (and more) as we continue to persevere and place our trust in God and His Word. The Little Rose Apparel (clothing line) is a outward display reflecting the truth we as women ought to boldly declare daily over our lives. We are more than the roles we fill, how we look or the children we raise.  We a have a story.  My hope is that through this blog you will see yourself in what it shared and find hope, strength and encouragement. Periodically I will feature other women and give them an opportunity to share their story, and how there faith in Jesus caused them to overcome.

When you read this blog I want you to feel known. There is so much that unites us.  Many of our struggles are so similar. This platform will be used to highlight those issues and point us to a God that sees and knows, and who is with us through it ALL! There is a quote that says “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God” (Timothy Keller). What a powerful truth! To be fully known and truly loved by God is all the empowerment you need to face the challenges of life.

I look forward to sharing the stories of others as well as my own in light of God, His Word and the miracle that is the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for joining the journey 

Know you are loved,

Little Rose