“I just don’t know where I’d be without Him.” “I can’t fathom who I would be without His presence.” “I can’t even imagine what my life would look like if He was not in it.”
Wrong.
I have said things like this in the past, often using this trite rhetorical pattern in an attempt to highlight the importance of God in my life, as if there were any question of where I could take myself if I did not depend on Him. What I have discovered, though, is that this ostensible admission of reliance upon Him was actually a self-centered idea altogether. I know exactly where I would be without Him. I know precisely who I would be, and there is no question what my life would look like.
Broken. Hollow. Lost.
I do not know exactly what kind of lost it would be or specifically what it would look like, but I am absolutely certain it would be utter darkness. It would be depravity with no hope of light and goodness. It would be riddled with self-destructive vice and weakness. It would be a battlefield of self-love and self-hate.
It would be misery.
I am learning what it means to rely on Him. I am growing and living in Him as I die to myself. I am finding my true worth in the blood of my Savior, accepting a little more each new day what it means to be clothed in Him.
This life is one that is no longer my own; I am mine no more. With this realization comes true freedom. I do not mourn the old man, my old identity. I joyfully lay it to rest, thankful beyond measure to no longer be dying in the dark. ~JMW
An unpopular message, but one that desperately needs to be heard: I myself do NOT have what it takes to make it from this life to the next on my own.
Only Jesus Christ can handle that.
While you may be rolling your eyes or scratching your head, take a minute to open your heart.
The more I try to do on my own, the less I need Jesus. Well, the more I FOOL myself in that matter.
See, when I empower myself or allow others to empower me toward self-fulfillment, I am robbing Christ of His heroism in my heart.
He is worthy. I am not.
He is enough. I am not.
Neither are you. Nor will we EVER be.
We weren’t created to be! So when we try so hard to be our own heroes, to slay the giants, to conquer the quests… we rob our real Heroes (God, the Spirit, and the Son—our literal Savior! Conquerer of sin and death itself!) of their due honor and glory.
He must become greater, I must become less.
Even before the big game… Even on my way to a job interview…. Even when I’m standing “alone” in a crowded room… no I’m not enough.
But thank God, He is more than enough for us both!
“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”’ ~Revelation 5:2-5
January is coming to an end, and I am just now feeling solid in my “word of the year.” Are you familiar with WotY?
My process tends to go something like this: I think about what I want to accomplish in the coming year, pray about it, adjust what I want to accomplish based on certain tugs of my heart, pray more, and then think of a word that sums it all up. Sometimes the word is one that keeps reoccurring in conversations, Scriptures, or prayers, and sometimes it is simply a word I grab that encompasses the goals I’ve prayed about. I’ve been attempting WotY for about 5-6 years (I say attempting because usually after March I forget I’ve done a word at all…) and I noticed something interesting in the last couple of years.
Words of the Years 2019 — Impact 2020 — Endure 2021 — Strengthen
I had no idea when I settled on Endure for my 2020 word that it would end up meaning so much. When we started the year, who knew what it would have in store for us? Honestly, it ended with a LOT of testing. Sadly, in the midst of the trying times, I had forgotten my word. I had forgotten the foreshadowing that encompassed “endure.” However, I did endure. We did endure. And we will CONTINUE to endure as we press on and STRENGTHEN our lives in 2021.
It isn’t really about MY strength, but really learning to lean on His unwavering strength.
So, moving forward my aim is to STRENGTHEN: ~ LOVE of my Lord. Walking faithfully, and obediently with Him is the ONLY place I want to be. If I’m not by His side, I don’t want to go. This is a bond, a friendship, and comfort I’ve recently nourished and want to strengthen more than anything else. Because the enemy of my soul wants nothing more than to distract me from this and lure me away with all the shiny, pretty things this world has to offer. ~ Relationships. I need to strengthen relationships within my home and family, among friends, Plexus team, community and Church family. Isolation and quarantine can be arguably necessary at times, however they can also be detrimental for certain relationships. Jesus taught us that our relationships with others are the second most important things in life when led and built with love. ~ Physically. It’s time to bring physical strength back to a priority seat in my life. I don’t need to be the strongEST person in the room or even the strongest I’ve ever been. I just need to be strong enough for whatever situation the Lord throws my way. Ultimately, my health and well being are not just mine. I’m better all around, inside and out, when I prioritize consistent movement, nutrition, and supplementation.
What is your word for 2021? I’d love to hear it! If you don’t have one, but “Strengthen” sounds like something you need to do as well, feel free to jump on board with me! Or maybe you’re still in the “ENDURE” phase, I’d love to pray with/for you as you keep pressing forward.
If you’d like me to point you in a direction for at home or in person workouts, nutrition plans, or supplementation I would be happy to! I am not providing links to all of those because I would like to connect with you first to make sure I introduce you to the right person to help provide for your needs and encourage you.
If you’d like to connect more with ME, I would LOVE that! Leave a comment or email me and we can start strengthening that connection now. 😉 🙂
Picture by Justin Williams (Jmwilliams Photography)
You know those days/nights that’ll stick in your memory bank? This was one of those.
It started with a trip to the doctor’s office with what we thought was another ear infection. THANKFULLY the ear is perfectly healthy, so no antibiotics for Ali! 🙌 (those will destroy healthy gut microbes, y’all.) But we love our doc and were grateful for the visit with her, either way!
Breaking the rules by taking a selfie in the dr office. 😉
Next, tap class for Bel! They’re learning a new routine and it is SO CUTE. I can’t wait to see what the outcome will be in a few weeks. (Aaannnd if I’m being honest, I wish I was dancing with her! 😆👐#jazzhands) I need to just join the adult tap class, but I do better with new things like that when a friend comes with me. Any takers?
Then came the family fun!! BOWLING with our dear friends! You know when you’re having so much fun you forget to take pictures? That was us. Ali grabbed my phone and asked her friend to take this one…
We took a few other pictures and then it was time to head to the car.
In true childlike fashion, the girls decided that to be a perfect time to play tag resulting in a badly twisted ankle for Ali Jo. (This precious girl said “I’m sorry!” When she fell to the ground. Bless her heart! She was in so much pain and said “I’m sorry” to me. 😭 I scooped her up as fast as I could and told her she didn’t have anything to apologize for.)
Sooo… we load up in the car, get home, eat a quick dinner, and head up to bed.
Totally unprompted, Bel starts making a “things to do” desk for Ali. That way she doesn’t have to get out of bed without help in the morning. Seriously, this child blows me away with her thoughtfulness.
Goodness. They make us proud parents. Sometimes sisters will fight like enemies, and sometimes they’ll show love and care like the best of friends. We are so thankful they’re learning to do more of the latter, and our prayer is that that kindness grows and blossoms into something genuinely incredible to behold. We thank the Lord for these precious souls!
So that’s the memory making, bowling with a twist! A lot of fun and a little drama/excitement make for unforgettable times, right? ❤️
Can you believe we are about 1/2way through January already?! I can’t! Things are clicking along and I can definitely feel normal settling in, but it’s not a normal I am fond of right now.
Let me explain.
I haven’t felt like myself lately. At least, not the me I have been for the last 4+ years. I’m a lot fussier. I’m more tired. I’m more easily overwhelmed and “done” when I’ve barely started. It hit me the other day… I have not had my pink drink in over a month. A MONTH!
I HAVE been rocking the consistency with Probio5, Ease, and XfactorPlus. I’ve even taken on Active and Metaburn for the mood boosting benefits! But I haven’t had the pink drink, Plexus Slim. And I am reminded of this: Slim is more than a fat burner. (I get that benefit with Metaburn) It’s more than a mood booster. (I get that benefit with Active!) It’s more than an anti-inflammatory. (I get that with Ease) It’s more than an energy booster. (I can get that with caffeine.)
Slim is a BALANCER. I’m learning that when my insulin levels are out of balance (what Slim has been proven to do!), my other hormones are ALSO out of balance and my mental health isn’t as strong. I’ve been off Slim for a month and here’s how I feel…. My brain fog is back. My chronic fatigue is back. As soon as the coffee/caffeine wears off, I am ready for a nap. (Alright who am I kidding… as soon as I wake up, caffeine or not, I’m ready for a nap!) My ability to handle high stress situations with a level head, has lessened. I’m snapping at my kids again. I hit my limits with them (and people in general) all too quickly.
Friend, this is NOT who I want to be or who God created me to be. I firmly believe the Lord introduced me to Plexus so that I could LIVE balanced, level headed, and joyfully! I represent Him better, when I am at my best. I cannot be at my best when I am out of balance on the inside. I had no idea just how much my pink drink helped and worked with my other supplements until I was without it.
So here’s my encouragement to you: try it. When I first started Plexus, it took me about 6 weeks of consistent use to realize how much better I felt. It is absolutely time for me to get back to my Pink Drink and back to the ME I’m supposed to be.
What would it mean to you to function on a daily basis HAPPILY without becoming overwhelmed at simple tasks, or needing a nap/sugar/caffeine all day in order to put one foot in front of the other?
Something to think about. With LOVE, ~Your HOPE dealer, Rach
You know those things your kids pray for, that you have no control over… it’s just totally up to The Lord to allow it our not? Our girls have been begging God for a snow day since November, and He wonderfully provided!
JMWilliams Photography
Isn’t it just GORGEOUS? I’ll be honest, I LOVE looking at snow, but I don’t love being IN it. So for most of the snow day, I watched from the window with a warm drink in my hands while the girls soaked through one outfit after another.
The pure joy on their faces was worth every wet spot on my floor and extra load of laundry to be done. Thank you, Father for this perfect snow day!
She couldn’t stop eating it. 😆
Enjoy these pictures taken and edited by Justin! I’m thinking we need to blow a few of them up to bring out every winter.
(Also, if you’re in Texas and in need of family or individual photos taken, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’d love to answer your questions and see if we’d be a good fit for your needs.)
The New Year has begun and we are wrapping up our first week of after Holiday normalcy. How did it go for you? (Read on for an important announcement!)
If you’re anything like me, or my kids, having a routine is essential to a day well spent. Even if you don’t do the same thing every day, having a PLAN of how you’ll spend your time helps manage your time. If I’m left to my own devices, I do NOT manage my time well. I used to think that routines took away my freedom, but I don’t think like that anymore.
Routines can be super important for our productivity, but flexibility is important for growth as well. Balancing the two can be TOUGH, but here’s a tip I’ve learned: write everything down. You may know, because I talk about it a bit, I’m a member of She Works His Way (an online community designed to help women–sorry guys!– complete their earthly tasks with a heavenly mindset) and one of the leaders in that community is Somer Phoebus, the Productivity Princess. She suggests even scheduling your free time.
I know that may sound bizarre. But as I understand it, she schedules her day/week so that her free time is just as important and nonnegotiable to her as her work time. That helps keep her focused during her work time (PRODUCTIVE) and then her free time isn’t bogged down by work. Genius, right?
This system may not work for you, but the most important thing as I understand it is to have SYSTEMS. Systems help manage your stress level and help your productivity increase.
Now for the announcement! TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO GET A PLEXUS MEMBERSHIP FOR $10! Why would you want a membership, and what is included? *one time EXTREME discount on products with a Welcome Pack combo! ($99 and $199 options available) *wholesale pricing on all your orders for a year. *receive 25% commission on everything over 100pv (IE cashback on your own orders and from those who use your link) *referral link to send your friends and family (and boost your pv) *extra income potential *opportunity to influence others to be their healthiest and happiest versions of themselves. Common Questions: *Do I have to share Plexus with others when I become a member? NO. Though, I don’t know why you wouldn’t. 😉 The great thing about Plexus is you can be a wholesale discount customer and not share plexus at all. Sharing simply helps boost your PV and of course helps others find what may work for them (BUT you can send them my way for that chat!) *Are there hidden fees? NO. No monthly website fees or anything like that. You just pay for your products you love! *How much is membership normally? $39.95. Plexus brought the price down to $9.95 when the economy took a hit during lockdowns in 2020. *Do I have to host parties in person or online? NO. And you don’t have to keep any inventory! That was definitely a perk for me when I signed up 4 years ago. *Will someone be able to help me get started if I want to hit the ground running? YES! I’m here. If you want a personal 1-1 training, I’m happy to be your girl! Or, if you’re more into sitting back and watching or listening, the BLESSED team FB page is full of self-paced trainings, and constant opportunities to grow yourself and your relationships with others. Are you ready to get started? Enroll here and snag a welcome pack that will help you crush your 2021 goals! The first 3 people to take advantage of this last days offer get a REFUND on their membership enrollment fee! 🙂
Intentions will barely get us out of our chairs. Intention + effort? That’ll get you up and into motion/action. Action + consistency? Well that my friends is where the magic happens.
I’ve been thinking a lot about goal setting and what I’d like to aim for in the coming year. If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that I can have my plans, but God gets the final say. His will be done. Keeping that in mind, I must surrender my goals to Him.
I’ve also learned, that it’s not the end goal I need to be shooting for, it’s the daily habits that will get me there. For example: if my end goal is “I will lose ___ lbs by June” I need to switch my mindset. Personally speaking, having this as my goal puts me in an “all or nothing” mentality where in years past, I would do just about anything to hit that goal regardless of the consequences to my health. BUT if my goal becomes… “I will eat veggies and move my body for at least 30 minutes every day”, or even “I will take my supplements and run 10 miles a week”, or maybe “I will drink 1/2 my body weight in ounces of water every day and have daily dance sessions with the girls followed by weight lifting 3x a week” THEN my goal is based on the HABIT that will get me there. Are you following me?
So, when you’re writing out your goals for 2021 I want you to remember these things:
1) Pray first. No goal should be set without first consulting the Father. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. If you are in Christ, His strength and Spirit are yours! Seek Him FIRST, then set those goals with His will in mind.
2) Be mindful of the HABITS. Replacing negative habits with more positive ones will help you fill the void that simply cutting things out creates. Remember to write down the habits that will point you in the direction you want to go.
3) Don’t only set goals that will be easy for you to accomplish. Push yourself! Stretch outside your comfort zone. Grow as a person! It will be uncomfortable and require discipline. But oh the reward!! The reward will be well worth it. We can do hard things my friends!
If this was beneficial to you, please subscribe and leave me a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
Some days when you’re home with bored kids, and one of them says “I’m going to make a wreath”… you go outside and help. 🙂
We had fun cutting branches off one of our cedar trees. I do admit that Justin did not think us using his wire cutters was very fun… but they worked, so I used them. 🤷♀️
Once we gathered plenty of branches (use gloves, friends. You’ll be glad you did!) we put them in a circular shape so be tied together with tinsel. Because when the crafting is spontaneous, you use what you have. We had tinsel.
Once the wreath was secured in a circle, we hot glued smaller pieces of the cedar branches to cover the tinsel and fill it out some. Afterward, the girls thought it needed a little something extra, so we grabbed a roll of old lace ribbon and voila! Done!
I’ll be honest, it’s not one I would buy at the store or see and think it is amazing. But it was made by us and that makes it beautiful to me. ❤️🥰
Look how proud she is 😉
Ps—sometimes when you’re deep into a craft with your older daughter, your younger daughter decides that’s a perfect time to become a whittler. So she goes to your kitchen, grabs a steak knife 😳, and gets to work on one of the discarded branches. 😬
Annnnd you figure you needed new knives anyway so you will allow it. 🤷♀️😆
I wanted to reach out, introduce myself, and let you in on my goals for our team in 2021. If you don’t know me, my name is Rachel Williams and I am one of your UpLine Ambassadors for Plexus! I ranked Gold in 2019 and maintained it through a large portion of 2020. That is because YOU decided to give Plexus a try and make your health a priority. THANK YOU! I don’t take it lightly that you were put on my team and I am so thankful for every single one of you. A little bit about me: ~ I love Music! My husband and I like to play/sing together. You can see some of our past FB lives here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvB1JbyFhhmE7Jvo15k_Rlg ~ Theater is a huge part of what I do for fun. In a normal year, I try to participate in at least 2 shows. ~ I was recently a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and coach. I have an extensive background in home based workouts, and that is what helps me stay the most healthy (because it limits my excuses). Justin and I are in the process of converting our garage into our home gym. While I’m not certified anymore in either of those areas, I would still be happy to point you in the direction that has worked well for me over the years, and offer any advice/knowledge I can in the area of fitness/nutrition. ~ Justin and I have been married for 13 years. We have 2 darling daughters (ages 10 and 8), 3 dogs, and 2 cats. God has been so good to us. ~I’ve been with Plexus for 4 years! I LOVE what these supplements have done for me. I really am HAPPIER from the inside out and my quality of life has improved drastically (no more mouth ulcers, no more chronic fatigue, no more sugar cravings that can’t be satisfied. Plus better skin, less aches and pains, and did I say I’m happier?! I’m so much happier)! ~ Justin and I are a Photography team! Check out our work over at Justin Williams. If you’re within a 150 mile radius of Corsicana, we would love to work with you! (If you’re farther, we would still love to work with you, but you know… you’re far away.) ~ I’ve had this blog for a few years. I’ll be keeping up with it better instead of using social media, so be sure to subscribe if you want to know about the regular goings on in the Williams household!
Plexus team Radiant for Life GOALS for 2021: ~ I want to get to know you better. We are a team (for those of you who WANT to be), and I want to know you. I want to know your likes and dislikes. I want to know your goals and dreams for this year. I want to put your face to your name. ~ More ZOOM meetings. Not necessarily all business building, but mostly GET TO KNOW YOU type things. (see first goal:)) ~ I want to serve you and help YOU succeed. If you’re feeling frustrated with your products, why? Can I help you change something up? Are you having trouble being consistent? I’m happy to help remind you. I want to open up a constant dialog so you feel comfortable coming to me. I want to focus on YOU this year. This team is nothing without you, and I want you to know you belong here.
OK. Almost done! If you’re reading this and thinking “yea, I’ve heard her talk like this before.” You’re right. I have talked like this. But here’s what I’m hoping is the difference: the absence of my social media and the presence of discipline. For a LONG time, I kept feeling led to GET RID OF SOCIAL MEDIA (Facebook and Instagram for me). Yet, I ignored that prompting. I ignored it for a LONG time. I thought that by attempting to put up boundaries and reset my priorities, I was being obedient enough to God’s nudge on my spirit. Unfortunately, “obedient enough” is my cowardly cover for disobedient. Good news though! Social media isn’t the extent of our team. Social media is a TOOL we network marketers can use. I 100% believe that God can and will show up and HELP ME be disciplined here, when I FULLY obey His promptings. Please hear my heart, I am not telling you to get off social media. This is all me. FB and Insta aren’t good for me. They encourage comparison and overspending/materialism. They increase my stress levels sometimes, and make me feel like I have to be someone I’m not called to be. So I’m finally listening. I’m ditching the platforms and I’m focusing on YOU. This is different. I hope you can feel it. If not, I’d love for you to sit back, watch, and hold me to it.
I hope you’re as excited about 2021 as I am! I’d like to close by asking if you have any prayer requests as we close out the year. 2020 has been a hard time for a lot of us, and it’s easy to feel alone in the battle. You are not alone. I’d be honored to go to the Father on your behalf.
Thank you for being here. 🙂 With Love, Rachel Williams @RachMarie
Radiant Mission 