Tag: believe

Repaired

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Nothing is more frustrating, than preparing to leave for work in the morning, only to find your car won’t start. To worsen your headache, you’re already late as hell, and the last time you were, your supervisor threatened to fire you. To add to the ever growing list of problems, your supervisor calls and tells you, “It’s okay, you can just stay at home, because you’re fired anyway”. “WTF”, you murmur to yourself. Up to your eyeballs in frustration, you don’t know whether to crawl and hide under a rock, or use it to break the windshield of your car, because you’re angry.

You’re depressed, because your life is in shambles, you’re in financial straits, you’ve just lost your job and now you’re on the brink of a breakdown, all because your car broke down. Although you’d like to blame the car for your misfortunes, you were already broken in the first place. Pacing back and forth, you continuously ask yourself, “What to do”? Hours later, you have no game plan and still no money. Like space on a thumb drive, you’ve “run out” of options, and just don’t know what to do!

“This is so unfair, you scream”, because no matter how many times you’ve tried to “fix” your situation, like the car, you just couldn’t make things “work”. Scatterbrained, you try to make sense of everything, but you can’t, because you just keep taking blows. Having seen no way out, you contemplate ending things, yet you can’t muster up the strength to do it, because you’re too worn out from the attacks. You’re hanging, and that thread is not giving you much support right now. In fact, you pray that it gives way, because you just can’t take it anymore.

Rather than let go, I encourage you to hang on. Like this individual, many of you are beyond broken. You have no hope, you’ve lost your faith and you feel like giving up. Truth of the matter, I don’t think you realize you already have. However, I know one of the BEST mechanics in this world, and He is able to “repair” you! It doesn’t mater if you have to crawl your way to Him or if you need someone to “tow” you in. His shop never closes and He’s always ready to “fix” you up and get you “running” back again!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Going the extra mile

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

I did it! I finally joined the Youtube world! My channel, Notes by La’Rue, is an extension of this blog, with the same agenda: to motivate, bring hope and inspire. Hopefully, me going the extra mile will encourage you to do the same. I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t care how courageous I am, I still have moments of fear. However, I’m learning to get over mine, so I can help others overcome theirs! I stopped sabotaging myself, and started pushing myself to do more, because I know there’s so much more to be done. If you know you’ve still got work to do, you won’t offer any more excuses, you’ll stop being lazy and quit second guessing yourself! Whatever you want to do in life, stop questioning it and just DO IT! By the way, don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel: Notes by La’Rue! You’ll be glad that you did, and so will I!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

On the right path

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

A year ago, I wanted to quit my job. Although I love what I do, it was no longer fulfilling to me. My energy went from a ten to a 4, and I started to question what was I doing “this” for. However, because of the nature of my job and the fact that so many people depend on me and rely upon my energy to get them going, I kept going. But, my love for something else kept me going after it. Therefore, I applied for job, after job after job. Although I didn’t expect to get all of them, I did think I had at least one in the bag. However, the only thing that was in my bag, was the ever growing letters of denial I had received.

“Are you serious”? Is what I kept asking, because there wasn’t a shadow of a doubt, that I wasn’t going to get one offer. After all, how could I not, when I was more than qualified. I was so upset and hurt, to say the least, because I just knew I was on my way out. But, I couldn’t leave, because God needed me to stay. Not just for my students, but for the person who was on their way to me. Unaware of any of this, I still fought to leave. Besides, I felt I had done my due diligence and it was time to head in a different direction. Sad to say, the only direction I was headed to, was back into my office. I felt defeated! So, I just resigned to the idea that I must be there for a reason.

Many months ago, I met this individual who is in a really bad situation. Regrettably, this person had taken a few wrong turns too many, and ended up in a place I’m sure no one would want to be. After getting to know this individual on a more deeper level, I saw the guilt, hurt and pain, not only as remorse for what was done, but what was done to said individual. Not knowing what else to do, I immediately went into counsel mode. Although what this person had done was senseless, after a couple of months of talking, it all made sense to me. The reason I couldn’t flee, was because this person needed me!

Had I left when I did, we would’ve never crossed paths, and I wouldn’t have positively impacted this individual, let alone changed their life for the better. Ultimately, they didn’t know better existed or how to do anything right, because for the majority of their life, all they knew and did was wrong. And damn wrong at that! As a result of the crossing of our paths, I’ve gained a life-long friend and someone who has helped me to recognized some things in myself, that I thought I had confronted and resolved. Sometimes I question, “What would’ve happened had I left”?

I’m sure I will never know, but one thing that I do know, God knows exactly what He’s doing. Just because you see an open path, doesn’t mean you’re supposed to take it. You may be in a similar situation as I was. You are trying your best to get out, because your next best thing is waiting for you down the road. However, God can see further down the road, while our sight is limited to what’s in front of us. In other words, we can’t see what He can. There maybe something down the line that could potentially hurt you or put you in a place far worse than the one you’re in. I know you want to leave, but be still, because you are on the right path! When the time comes, He’ll move you!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Every step counts

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

There’s nothing more aggravating than trying to assemble something, that’s come with a thousand and one pieces. We all dread reading the ever confusing thick “white booklet”, also known as the instructions. Before we even allow ourselves the chance to fully read it, let alone follow it, we quickly try to do it on our own. “I got this”, we say. Well, a migraine and a few hours later, we’re elated and proud of ourselves for completing the assembly. As we try to put it to use, we realize it’s not working. We’re dumbfounded, because we know for a fact we did everything right, so we’re not sure where we went wrong. Although we’d like to think we dotted every “i” and crossed all t’s, we forgot one very important thing…. to follow all the steps. Because of our impatience and urgency for wanting things now (and I’m talking right now), we’ll skip steps 2-5 to get to 6, when 2-5 are most critical to us. It’s during these steps that we learn what we need to complete the process.

Do you often find yourself hurrying to the next phase, by jumping over steps, because you simply can’t wait? Don’t worry, we’re in this thing together! Take a marriage for example. Typically, before you marry, you go through the dating phase. Here, you learn each other, and share your likes, dislikes, etc. Next, (if all goes well) you meet what could possibly be your best friend or your worst enemy, “the family”. At this point, you’re about to determine if you’re going to run to the altar or for your life. LOL! All jokes aside, this step is important, because if you’re planning a future with someone, you want to know what you’re getting yourself into. Once you pass this step, it’s smooth sailing…until you encounter a riptide: living together. This is important for a lot of people, because they want to know if they are able to co-live with their partner, if they’re clean, leave the seat up, and so forth. In other words, do I really want to get married to you!

Lastly, you’ve made it to the homestretch, the final step, marriage. Do understand that although a lot of people will make it here, they won’t stay. When they skipped steps 2-5, they failed to get what’s required to not only help them reach step 6, but to stay there. In most cases, this doesn’t apply to everybody, because I’m sure there are plenty of couples who went straight from the first date to the courthouse. Although this is particularly not about marriage, and is probably not a good analogy, I can only hope you see what I’m trying to convey: have patience! It’s so easy to become antsy and want to rush to see what’s next. So much so, you end up skipping the line, when you needed to wait your turn. Remember, every step counts, so please take your time and wait!  

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

When the chips are down

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Been in a funky mood lately? Tired of being tired? Do you want to give up, because you don’t see things getting any better? You are not alone! So many people all over the world are experiencing the same feelings as you, and are unsure what to do. A part of them want to believe things are going to change for the better, but they’re not so hopeful. In fact, not only have they lost hope, they’ve become faithless, because everything seems to keep going from bad to worse.

COVID has taken over. The death toll keeps rising. People have lost their jobs. The economy is in shambles, and so are you. Matthew 26:6 tells us that, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end”. This pandemic has launched a full on war against the world, but it is not the end of it! I know you want a more concrete answer, but it’s the best one I’ve got. I too, don’t understand why things are happening as they are, but according to His word, they have too.

“What’s next”? The question that seems to be on everyone’s mind, and honestly speaking, its to pray! Simple as that, yet so hard for many people to do. Why? Because, they don’t have the faith to stand on and the hope to believe that what they ask for, will come to pass. After all, why should they, when nothing’s happening? Oh, but there is! Just because you can’t see God working, doesn’t mean that He’s not.

Listen, I feel where you’re coming from. There are days that I get down and ask God “Why”? Or, “When will this end”? I’ve got questions just like you, but I’ve got faith in Him as well. At this moment, you’re going through it, but eventually you’ll come out. The chips are down now, but I pray they won’t be much longer.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

I don’t believe you

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

I used to think that I could do anything, until I started listening to you

If only I’d paid you no mind, then I wouldn’t have allowed you to change mine

Now, I’ve gone from being great, to questioning whether or not I really am

There’s no doubt that I’m insanely gifted, but when you doubt me, it drives me insane

More than anybody, you’re supposed to be in my corner, yet at the same time, that’s where you’re trying to keep me

I don’t know what’s scarier, me not achieving my goals, or you not believing them

Truth be told, it doesn’t matter what you believe, because I don’t believe you!

Have you ever had this conversation with yourself? I know I have time and time again. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy/critic. We’ll downplay our talents and question our ability to do things, and when we don’t, we want to fault others, when no one’s to blame but ourselves. We’ve got to ignore negative thinking, because it creates doubt and feelings of defeat. Sadly, it’s self that always defeats us!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Forever and always

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

I never thought I’d see the day my dreams would become a reality, but I made it happen, all because I didn’t give up. I knew what I wanted and I knew it’d take me some time to get there, but I didn’t let the length of the journey to deter me from reaching my destiny. Sometimes, we can be so overwhelmed by the “what ifs”, that we often toss around the idea of “what if” I never achieve my goals. But,“what if” you do? Don’t stop now, you’re too close to finishing! It’s been said that nothing lasts forever, and things don’t always happen, but understand this. It may take you forever to reach your goals, but it doesn’t matter, as long as you always try!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Focus on the promise, not the problem

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

People lie, God doesn’t. People change their mind, but God stands firm on His. People make promises they don’t intend to keep, but God fulfills them all.

He didn’t say it’d be easy, but He did promise to “Strengthen and help us”. (Isaiah 41:10)

He didn’t say the path would be smooth, but He did promise to “Direct ours, if only we’d put our trust in Him”. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

He didn’t say the weapons wouldn’t form, but He did promise “They wouldn’t prosper”. (Isaiah 54:17)

He didn’t say we wouldn’t cry out for help, but He did promise to “Hear our cries and deliver us from our troubles”. (Psalms 34:17)

He didn’t say we wouldn’t face oppression, but He did promise to “Be a stronghold in our times of trouble”. (Psalms 9:9)

There are a lot of things that God “didn’t say”, but one thing’s for certain, He did say He’d make GOOD on His promises! That should be our focus, NOT our problems!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Yes, you can

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

You don’t have the resources to start a business, so you don’t move forward. You want to go back to school, but you’re not sure where to start, so you just quit. You want to buy a house, but your credit is low and you don’t have the down payment. There are so many things you want to do, yet for whatever reason, you’re holding back. You’ve come up with a thousand excuses as to why you can’t, yet I can give you one good reason why you can. “You can do all things in Christ who strengthens you”. If He wants you to have a business, He’ll provide the resources. If He wants you to go to school, He’ll give you the start and see you to the end. You want to be a homeowner? He wants you to be one too, so He’s going to make a way for you. Remember, we are heirs to His Kingdom, His rich Kingdom, so of course He’s going to give you the absolute best! God is with you in everything that you do, so the next time you choose to do something, remember, because of Him, YOU CAN!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Covered

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

I’m still in a state of shock, and can’t believe this has somehow managed to become our “new normal”. I thought it so bizarre and strange when Michael Jackson used to wear a face mask and gloves out in public, but who knew we’d have to one day do the same. The things we used to complain and grumble about getting rid of, are now the things we complain and grumble about wanting. Let’s face it, we want that old “thang” back! We miss the life we used to have, because it was better than the one we have now. It feels like we are living out the scenes of one of Stephen King’s horror movie, and we’re afraid, because we all know they never ended well. However, the good thing about our situation, is that God is both our Writer and Director. He writes our story and directs our paths, so I know the path to healing and getting rid of COVID-19 is not too far away. He has us covered, and because of that, we should be able to find peace and comfort in the midst of this storm!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue