This weekend I had the pleasure of attending one of my niece’s soccer games =). When I showed up I noticed she was still sitting down even though her team was on the field. She lifted her foot and showed me her shoe. It was totally a croc, definitely not a cleat. Can't hit the field like that. 

It got me thinking about how often we show up on game day unprepared to step on the field. When I say game day I’m talking about life: work, school, church ministry, home, volunteering, and everything else we do on a daily.

I am convinced in most things we do we are showing up to our games with our crocs on and forgetting our cleats in the car.

In my case, total convenience. In this style, my hair can be done in two minutes or less and for me this is necessary! Although it can be fun to take your time and get all dolled up, I don’t have time to be in the bathroom all morning getting dressed. [hard to believe with all these selfies huh?] Unfortunately for me, this “I don’t have time to comb my hair” mess lasted 3 weeks and 3 dreads too long. O_o

So you know I pulled something out of this experience right? Let me gon’ head and share it with you =)

Looking real good…on the outside anyways

After about a week of just brushing the edges of my hair up I knew good and well it was time to comb it out. But because I felt there were other matters that deserved more of my attention I didn’t make the time. I figured as long as I could slick it up and play it off I’d be cool. And I was right! The compliments let me know them slicked edges were deceiving and working just how I needed them to! A perfect disguise.

Sounds a lot like our lives. We are so caught up in our busy schedules or even in just trying to front like everything is okay on the outside, that we don’t take care of what is going on within. (Inside our bodies, homes, churches, workplaces, relationships, etc) Outside people see well put together, sweet, kind, loving, financially stable, solid relationships… in other words a slicked up high bun. But on the insides we’re all tangled, matted, knotted, dreaded, unconditioned and unkept because we have not dealt with the new growth and tangling that is going on within us.

If we get enough people who CAN’T see past our façade telling us that we look amazing and we are 

The last couple of weeks all I have talked about is catching dreams and making sure you take time to rest your mind, body, and spirit while you are taking those steps. This week I want to keep that going and with good reason. 

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to not only go to a live Rehab Time event w/my friend Lizzy, but to have a sit down with Trent Shelton and just dialogue. It was truly a blessing and humbling experience to be in the same room with such a humble and genuine person.

If you have never heard of Trent Shelton or rehab time before let me do a quick breakdown. Trent is a motivational speaker ok no he doesn’t like to be called that. He stated during the live event “I don’t want the titles you can have that, just call me someone who cares”. If you follow Trent on any of the social networking sites you will understand why he says that. Everything that he shares is genuine and obviously from the heart. Thru obedience he created RehabTime, which stands for Renew Every Heart and Body. His messages have literally touched millions and his heart for God has brought others to a greater intimacy with our creator. (Find him on Facebook.com/LikeTrentShelton or twitter or IG TrentShelton)

There was soooo much said throughout this weekend but today I’m just going to share what I took from these two experiences. I pray they will encourage you to continue to go after those dreams until they become your reality! 

How many of you are working non-stop? When I say work, I’m talking far beyond the 9-5 job. I’m saying work all day then, running the kids around to their practices, rehearsals, and other extracurricular activities, taking care of home duties, making it out to the business meeting for another project, running to a ministry meeting or rehearsal, calling back all the people who have called you over the week, being present for whoever you need to be present for, how could I forget leaving time for fun…the list goes on.

I could say, “woah there buddy you’re doing too much”. But truth is, this is the life that many of us lead—constant movement with no room for rest. Every time I mention wanting to sleep there is someone there to say, “nah sleep when you’re dead”. See me??? [insert crazy look here]

I don’t believe in that lol. Not one bit. When I die I’ma be praising, and trying to get a tetherball game in with Jesus and busy doing whatever else it is we’ll be doing in heaven. I won’t need to sleep then! I need to sleep now! I need rest now! 

According to Dr. Michael Breus, there are several consequences of sleep deprivation. I came across his article on WebMD that stated the short and long term effects: