Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas – December 2019

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,

 good will toward men. Luke 2:14 KJV

This year I learned to find joy in the journey whether it is was having an intense work schedule that lasted three full months to finally taking a much-needed vacation.

I also experienced some sudden changes with our son-in-law transitioning from his six-year youth pastor job with a traditional denominational church to a nondenominational church as a worship leader.

Pat, my husband, also experienced full right ankle replacement in August, with the challenge of not walking, but using a scooter for several weeks to finally walk pain free in October.

Thank God for medical devices.

I appreciate Pat’s support with my crazy schedule, with work, my small groups with our church, or my work with Cindy Dennis ministries. 

Whew, busy, but love it.

Savoring special moments as they happen is important especially in our hectic, nonstop world, it is easy to miss them. They are moments of peace and joy and connection.

This holiday season, it is my prayer that we “Make the most of every living and breathing moment…” Ephesians 5:16 VOICE.

Through all the adventures and challenges each day brings, may we savor the special moments and enjoy our journey.

Here is wishing you a joyful journey in 2020 that’s promising, exciting, inspiring and full of fun! Happy New Year!

Cindy Dennis

I hope you will join me for the Cindy Dennis Ministries 10thAnniversary on Saturday evening, March 21, 2020, to celebrate what the Lord has done! Register today at www.cindydennis.org to take advantage of the early bird discount ticket price. 

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3

how not to be your own worst

Without realizing it, we can become our own worst enemy by not being satisfied with how God made us, or focusing too much on our inabilities, that we overlook the talents we do possess. We can waste so much time and energy by being indecisive, despondent, and unhappy. It is like a vacuum that not only wants to pull us in but everyone around us.

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With the popularity of social media and its easy access on our smart phones, it is alarming how

quickly we neglect our giftings and abilities to be like others. Comparing ourselves to others is lethal because it leads to feeling insecure, envious, and feeling discontent with life.

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Learning to like ourselves and celebrate our unique strengths can be one of the best decisions we can ever make. Galatians 6:4-5 encourages us to “make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself.

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Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Even if others value and appreciate us, it is not enough to help us feel fulfilled and content. We need to be the one to like who we are and avoid putting our energy into comparing ourselves to others and worst yet, trying to be someone we are not.

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I don’t want to be my own worst enemy, and I am taking a stand to no longer waste another moment of my life that I can never get back again by not liking one thing or another about myself. I want to put my energies in knowing who I am in Him.

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I love this quote by Joyce Meyers, “You are not loved

because you are valuable—you are valuable because you are loved. Perhaps you have learned to be your own worst enemy, but now it is time to be your own best friend!”

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Here are my go-to tips on how to become our own best friend:

 Acknowledge your own unique qualities, talents and abilities.

 Believe the best and reframe from speaking or thinking the worst about yourself.

 When we are criticized know the difference between constructive criticism or criticalness.

Proverbs 15:31 TPT says” Accepting constructive criticism opens your heart to the path of life,

making you right at home among the wise.”

 Look away from all that will distract us and focus our eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor.

He will help us discover untapped abilities and talents we never knew existed.

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Decide today to be your best friend instead of your worst enemy.

Believe you are amazing, gifted with talents and abilities.

Pursue your passion and purpose.

Blessings,

Cindy

When to stand up for yourself

Knowing When to Stand Up for Yourself

When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule for everything she says.

—Proverbs 31:26 AMPC

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I remember when I was first started dating my husband I wanted so much to have him like me so I just went along to get along. I continued in this pattern early on in my marriage which was a terrible mistake. What I soon discovered is that most times my husband really didn’t care about the details, unlike me, who in totally into the details and they matter. My husband enjoyed just being in the moment celebrating time together. He is a big picture kind of guy.

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He would always pick up I was frustrated and miserable, but when he asked if everything was alright, I would respond I that I was fine. I allowed fear and insecurity to keep me from being able to freely express what I truly was feeling inside. God bless my husband for sticking with me and showering me with affirmation and validation.

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Many times we believe the lie that it seems easier to go with the flow to avoid the possibility of conflict, but the truth is, this oftenleads to stress and anxiety, and ultimately increase our insecurity and low self-worth.

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It is time to know when to stand up and be true to yourself.

History is filled with stories of people who knew when it was time to take a stand for what is right and changed history because of it. People like Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, who was required by law to give up her seat on the bus and let a white man have it. Her refusal to give up her seat spurred the civil rights movement in the United States.

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She followed her heart and knew it was time to make a stand and the results of her bold actions are still making a difference today.

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You might be used to change history, but if not, you can at least be someone who changes your own history. Learning to know when and how to stand up for yourself will help you to fulfill your destiny. It allows you to discover your passions and embrace your unique characteristics. Bottom line, it allows you to be free.

If you have a history of not speaking up or just going along to get along, then take the first step toward letting your voice be heard. Begin to speak truly, deal truly and live truly.

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Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).—Ephesians 4:15 AMPC

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Every day we make dozens decisions that either allow us to embrace our purpose and benefit others, or keep us in the pit of insecurity and despair. Maybe you have had a painful past. I have good news for you, it doesn’t have to be your destiny—you can take a stand against the wrong behavior of other people who have harmed you.

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You no longer have to feel like a helpless victim. Instead you can be empowered by God’s Word and know that you are in Christ, you are a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! (See 2 Corinthians 5:17)

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The only way I have learned when to stand up for myself, is to first begin to discover who I am in Christ by studying God’s Word. We may not always want to do what is right but His Word provides us with the tools to live the life He has for us. His Word will allow you to be “inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.” (See Romans 12:2)

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You are far too valuable to passively allow others to misunderstand you, misuse you and in some situations, to not respect you. It is time to know when to stand up for yourself so you can become that person God created you to be.

Blessings,

Cindy