When your Faith is Low..

Sometimes we can get tested out of NOWHERE and those tests can sometimes bring a fear to our heart. But it's in those moments that you have to APPLY your quiet time with the Lord, what you've learned at conferences, church and the books you read on faith. It's not enough to simply be fat off of the word of God - at some point, we have to take what we've learned and APPLY it to our life. We walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT. Which means, although the circumstances look BAD as you live for Jesus - it doesn't BOTHER  you. It doesn't bother you because you don't LIVE by circumstances, you LIVE by FAITH. So, you're eyes are on the UNSEEN. You know that God has your back & that He is for you! He will restore every hurt, every confusion, every situation, every circumstances! Thank God for the Cross!! He has tore the veil so that we may be ONE with Him so that when we experience hard things, we can have the RIGHT perspective!
Now, Things are going to work out as they ALWAYS do. We must get to the place in our walk where whether things "work out" or don't "work out" - it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because you know that whatever God has for you cannot be taken away from you. So, if it doesn't work out  - it wasn't supposed to work out in the first place.

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Romans 10:17 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

I adore these scriptures because they reiterate what I said above. We walk by faith, we don't lose heart and faith comes by spending time with God & getting the word in your heart.

So, if you don't have the RIGHT perspective, most likely - you've given your attention to something or someone else. If you feel like you're not walking by faith.. you're losing heart THEN you're most likely not spending time with God, or surrounding yourself with His word. It's NOT enough to go to church one time a week and hear an hour sermon and expect to be sustained. YOU must do your part! What are you listening to all day? Have you put your technology down for one minute to spend time with God? Technology is a huge blessing and also a curse. It's a curse if it's replacing the time you've spent with God and created discontentment in your heart as you compare yourself to others online. Staring at peoples Facebook status or periscopes won't sustain your faith walk! All of hell is fighting against you and you don't have your armor on!! It's important to recognize when your "tank" is empty! I always say this - if you need gas, you go to the gas station. If you are hungry, you go to the kitchen. If your spirit man is STARVED, you pick up your phone, call a friend or vent on Facebook about how you hate everything.

You constantly reach out to everyone for prayer but you refuse to pull away and pray to the Father. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm a fan of prayer and a fan of two or three getting together in prayer. I ENCOURAGE you to pray with your sisters in Christ but I encourage you to not DEPEND on your sisters to sustain your prayer life. At some point, you gotta grow in your walk and stop running to everybody for advice, prayer and whatever else and go sit at the feet of Jesus. YOU need a relationship with Him and it's going to cost you your entire life.
..Matthew 10:39 "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
Yes, it's hard. Yes, you won't understand. Yes, you will have moments where you feel like nothing is working out. BUT, who are you clinging too? It's time to start clinging to God & not man! Not your bank account, not your business, not your degrees, not your whatever else!

So, I pray that this short blog reminds you to trust in the Lord and not in what you see. We must finally start maturing in this walk and stop seeking the "quick way out." Let's get to applying and stop coveting everybody else's walk in the Lord. YOU are as close to God as you want to be.

God loves you like crazy,
Heather Lindsey

Me & my princess, Taylor!

New Book: The Runaway Bride

Eeeek! I am THRILLED to announce my fourth book, "The Runaway Bride" is FINALLY here! This book is going to challenge you, convict you, make you cry, laugh and most importantly, push you closer to Jesus. After I preached "The Runaway Bride" at the 2014 Pinky Promise Conference, the Holy Spirit told me to follow the sermon with a book. I had no idea that for the next 9 months, God was going to wreck me, change me and restore me by showing me that I even run from Him in some areas.

You can find the book available NOW via a few avenues!

1. If you order it via my Pinky Promise Boutiques, for a limited time, I will sign the books BUT they won't ship until the week of June 15th! You can find the boutique HERE. 

2. You can order directly from my publisher HERE.

3. OR You can go on Kindle/Amazon & order HERE! 

P.S. I WILL be selling copies at the 2015 Pinky Promise Conference and I have a few scheduled book signings there as well!

I love you all and I'm thankful for your support!

Heather Lindsey

"Lord, Help Me to Be Content"

Gosh, what a dangerous prayer to pray.

And it seems like if you don't renew your mind in this area of being content with your season then it creeps back up around and you will look up and not even realize that.. you're discontent.

You may cry out to God and say.. "LORD! But... I thought I passed this test of contentment" and in all honesty, you did pass it at one point. But now you're experiencing tests, trials & different situations and you may find yourself simply complaining. Guess what, you passing those previous tests was wonderful, but now you're maturing and growing in Christ. There's a new level of contentment that you have to pass!

This blog was birthed from my OWN recent struggle. I'm 31 weeks pregnant (about 8 months) and I'm in the middle of finishing off the final edit of my new book coming out in less than a month, I'm planning our 2015 Pinky Promise Conference is next month & negotiating a contract for 2016, then, our statewide baby shower in September, marriage & single retreats, still running our Pinky Promise non-profit, I'm still trying to be a great wife, mother, friend, prepare for a new child and then the list goes on and on! On top of all of that, I started to get a few third trimester pains that really started to slow me down. I started to complain, I thought, "Gosh, Lord- must you pile all of this on me during the busiest time of my life?"

So, as I sat before the Lord in my quiet time yesterday, I started to complain and fuss as I prayed. Sounds crazy, right? Then, the Holy Spirit took me to Philippians 4:4 and I saw Paul write.. "always be full of the joy of the Lord." Of course, Lord-- you would take me to that scripture. But I couldn't stop reading that same line over and over again. It struck me like a ton of bricks.

First, let's break down the word always:
al·ways
adverb
1. at all times; on all occasions.

Wait, so at all times, on all occasions, be full of the joy of the Lord?

Does that also include being 8 months pregnant and trying to do a bunch of things? Does that also include when tests and trials hit your life? Does that also include when you feel rejected, hurt, mad, frustrated, lonely, lost? Does that include when you lose your job? Does that include when your boyfriend leaves you and you had plans for marriage? Does that include when a loved one passes away? Does that include when you hate your job? Does that include when you feel ugly? Does that include when you get hurt by a friend or a family member?

Yes. At all times, on all occasions, be full of the joy of the Lord.

Talk about CONVICTION!

And to add to that fun conviction, Paul is in PRISON telling the church to be CONTENT and to find JOY in the midst of their situation. He's in prison. In a tiny little cell that I'm sure is dirty, with tons of insects, it smells, other prisoners are yelling, screaming and let's not even talk about the food. He may or may not have had a small window to look outside. He sat in the prison cell, day in and day out. Not even know when he was leaving. And, he's telling your comfortable self to be content. I cannot imagine what prison is like back in those times. Paul, like the other Apostles, were hated by most of the Jews because they openly and publicly taught that Jesus was the Son of God. The Jews thought this was blasphemy against God and were more than willing to throw someone in jail over the issue. Paul was in jail for about 5 1/2-6 years in total during the time he was on this earth-- all over sharing Christ! Paul was shipwrecked, snakebitten, stoned and eventually beheaded all for the gospel of Jesus! And THIS man is telling US to be content and AT all times, on ALL occasions, be FULL of the joy of the Lord!

This slapped me in the face and seriously challenged my heart. Paul detached from earthly things because the only thing that mattered what "CHRIST BEING WITH HIM." His mindset wasn't on getting a job promotion, on that next TV show that is debuting, or that concert. It wasn't on "when he was gonna find a wife (even though he had the gift of singleness, his focus was what mattered), it wasn't on some fleshly desire. It was on Christ. He knew that he could REALLY do "All things who Christ who strengthens Him" in Philippians 4:13 because Paul was focused not on what he "thought" he should have but on the task that Jesus gave him. Most people totally use that scripture out of context! They scream verse 13 while totally ignoring the scriptures before hand while they operate in their own strength, hoping God will fund their (not His) ideas.

Are you focused on the task that Jesus gave you or are you distracted by what you think you should have?

• Lord, when is it my time for a husband? I'm tired of being single.
• Lord, when is it my time for a job promotion? I hate this stupid job that I prayed for and I want more money for doing what I do. They don't appreciate my hard word and I have EARNED it Lord!
• Lord, when is it my time to be debt free? I've been claiming debt freedom for 15 years and I'm still in debt and broke! (Honey, the same way you get outta debt is the way you got in it. Stop spending)
• Lord, when is it my time to shine?! I want a stage! I want to see my purpose come to pass! My question to you is for what? For you or for Him?

I'm sure there was a lot of things that Paul "thought" he should have but He made a decision to shut up and encourage others in the Lord. And it wasn't positive thinking. His foundation was actually really trusting in the Lord and allowing for the Holy Spirit to fill His voids. 

What do you do when you are having a rough day? Do you run to an ex, food, porn, a friend or do you run to Christ? I get it, I get it, we all need outlets and times where we pull away but you better make sure that the Holy Spirit is giving you the ok to do what you're doing. Emotional eating, shopping, rushing back to your past or watching pornography will never satisfy you. It will only produce a greater lust in your heart to continue to use those things to temporarily put a bandaid on the issue. 

Isaiah 58:11 "..And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."  

Ok, so if this scripture says that the Lord will guide and continually satisfy you, it tells me that most of are aren't giving Him a chance to satisfy our desires. We are too busy using our discontentment as an excuse to continue in our sin. And lets be honest and call it like it is, you just don't trust God to satisfy you. Trusting Him takes way too long  and if Jesus ain't moving fast enough, then you need to help Him out. I have learned that as the Lord guides us continually and leads us that our desires truly become HIS desires. I always say this and I will say it again, it's not that there's a shortage of good men, jobs, whatever else, there's just a storage of patient women that are willing to be developed by the Lord to actually go through the process of trusting Him.

This also goes for your marriage. Some of you are in your marriage and you are not content. You're sitting there dumbfounded because you thought that marriage would cure those feelings that you have but nothing your spouse does is good enough for you. You're just not content with him. Honestly, if you aren't content with him, you're not content with you. You are one flesh and you have brought the spirit of discontentment into your marriage. Instead of bashing him for what he's not doing, why don't you start appreciating him and thanking him for what he IS doing. Maybe he doesn't always take out the trash or clean up after himself. But, he goes to work, loves you, is faithful and he at least tries. Maybe, if he sees you taking out the trash, he will feel convicted and help you. For some reason, we have a hard time with 1 Peter 3:4 and that says that "we should win our husbands over with our quiet and gentle spirits." Let me translate in Heather terms: Shut up and stop nagging him for 10 minutes so the Holy Spirit can speak to him. Your husbands job is not to make you happy. Marriage is ministry and marriage is about serving one another and it's his job to love you like Christ loved the church. Jesus could care less about your happiness because your happiness is relative. It could make you happy to cheat on your spouse. It could make you happy to overeat. Jesus is much more concerned about your eternal salvation than you being led by your happy flesh feelings on this earth. So, it was on my heart in the midst of this blog to just say, "give your husband a break from all of that complaining." Build him up and pray for him like crazy. Speak up as the Holy Spirit leads you and be gracious in your tone.

So, how can one be content?

1. It's time to refocus, spend time with the Lord and really renew our minds concerning the things that are important to us. Search the scriptures on contentment and see what the bible says about it and ask yourself questions like, "have I ever been content? What does contentment mean to me?"

2. Identify open doors. If your void filler is shopping, maybe you need to delete the app that pops up every time there's a sale.  If your void filler is that ex, you need to erase and block his number so you aren't tempted to reach out. If it's overworking, you need to set boundaries and go home at a certain time to make sure that Christ is truly in the center of your life.

3. Admit it. It's time to be totally honest with ourselves and say, "I'm not content with my life and I compare myself to others, Lord help me." Don't push it under the rug & say, "no, that's not me, I'm good. I'm content." But deep down, you desire this things in the pit of your stomach and you constantly question God about those things. Contentment says, in all season, at all time, on all occasions, I will trust in you Lord. 

4. Recognize your problem areas. This goes back to #2. If you know that after a huge test, you want to "go to a bar, drink and get drunk", then you have to avoid those tempting situations. Don't just go and tell yourself that you're getting a "Cranberry drink." If your issue is sex, it's not the best idea to go up to his house or apartment if you know what happens when you do so.

5. Communicate daily to the Holy Spirit. Talk to Him throughout the day. Tell Him that you're not happy, vent, take moments where you just ask Him how He's doing. He's real! He's active and He's more real than the person sitting next to you.

Bonus: PRACTICE this contentment and remind yourself that God provides for you and that you have what you need. It's not going to happen overnight, especially if you have 15 years of discontentment.

You're NOT alone in this walk and satan is after your mindset concerning contentment! He wants you to think that God has forgotten about you and isn't for you. Instead, recognize that on this earth, we WILL experience tests and trials and these tests will develop things OUT of us that aren't like Him.

Just a few things:

1. Find my (3) books, purity rings, shirts & all that good stuff via pinkypromiseboutiques.com!

2. We have developed an APP! Think: daily post notifications + weekly devotionals, recipes and so much more! It's out NOW for iphones + Androids. Under: Heather & Cornelius Lindsey: Today With the Lindsey's

3.  If you live in Atlanta, I want to invite you to our church. Join us on Sundays at 11:00am at Landmark Midtown Art Cinemas. Our churches name is: "The Gathering Oasis"  931 Monroe Drive NE Atlanta, GA. 

4. Register for the 2015 Pinky Promise in Atlanta, GA! It sold out last year and it's 99%  sold out now, so you don't want to miss out! www.pinkypromiseconference.com 

6. As always, you can join a Pinky Promise group locally! There's about 35,000 ladies that have joined! Find a group near you by joining & checking out the intro page! Join here: www.PinkyPromiseMovement.com

7. Pinky Promise is hosting a statewide baby shower for low income & single mamas in Atlanta, GA on September 12. If you want to donate or be a part of it, please email pinkypromisequestions@gmail.com For donations only, you can send the payment via PayPal to pinkypmovement@gmail.com & be sure to note that its for the Statewide Baby Shower. All donations are tax deductible. 

Hang in there.
God loves you like crazy,

Love ya'll!
Heather Lindsey


A maternity photo! :) 8 more weeks to go!

"Help, I'm Insecure"

**(Before we start reading, I was actually writing a chapter in my new book, "The Runaway Bride" and I titled the chapter "The Insecure Bride." I felt led by the Lord to share a snippet of the chapter with you. Note that this isn't the entire chapter, but you can find the rest of it on June 5, 2015 on this site when it goes live! :))**

One of satans biggest weapons is doubt. Satan loves for us to question who we are and how we measure up to others (Ephesians 2:1-2; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Samuel 16:7). He wants us to feel insecure over the meaning and purpose of our lives, where we’re going, and how we’ll get there. If Satan can get you to doubt God, then you don't think that He will use you. If satan can get you to doubt your looks, you will think that God spent less time on you and more time on another. If satan can get you to doubt your purpose, you will chase after money, get rich schemes and other things-- all distracting you from your main purpose. More than anything, if Satan can get you to doubt Gods love for you, you will quit on God all together.

I just exposed his plan. So now that you know that, lets fight BACK.

Have you ever felt insecure before? As women, I think its like a secret society where we pretend like we have it all together. We pretend like we are confident, we never compare our lives to anybody else, we always feel beautiful, we always have it all together. 

Let me tell you right now that its a lie. 

EVERY person on this earth has dealt with this area of insecurity. 

Including me. 

As you all know, I shared my story, "When I was Single"  and I grew up in a small town where I constantly compared my looks to everybody else looks. Social media and technology wasn't as popular so instead of comparing my life to a persons life on instagram, I compared my life to my classmates. It seems like they always got the guys and no guys from my school asked me out in elementary, middle school or even high school. I went to a predominately caucasian school and I honestly felt left out. 

Well, maybe if my hair was straight enough.. or if I was skinner.. or if I was this or that, maybe guys would like me.

I measured myself by a mirror called men. If they gave me attention, I ran with it and I felt good about myself. If I walked by a group of guys and they didn't give me attention, I would go home and feel rejected. Yes, it was that deep for me. Hey, I was 15, what do you expect?

Those insecurities didn't leave me when I got to college, it only worsened. Now, I'm on a campus with 45,000 students and ALL of the sudden, men are giving me attention. I look around and think.. "WHO are they looking at because there's NO way they are looking at me!" I CONSTANTLY looked at everybody else and compared my life to their life! I just wanted to feel enough. I just wanted to be enough. So, while in school my freshman year in college, I maxed out about 5 credit cards, buying clothes and makeup to make myself feel better about who I was. I figured that if I cannot fix this feeling on the inside, at least I can dress it up on the outside. I wore all of these clothes to fill this God-sized void in my heart that could ONLY be filled by God! 

How FRUSTRATING! Then, I jumped into a relationship with someone and what did I see in him? Nothing. He was older and he gave me attention. The attention I once craved when I watched little boys flirt with little girls when I was 10 years old. The 10 year old girl in me wanted so bad to feel secure in who I was so I acted out on my insecurity by dating a man that had no standards. I didn't know how I was supposed to be treated because my affection was hurt. "If you hurt me, it's ok. I'm ride or die. I will ride and die for you because I have no standards and I don't feel good about myself. I'm afraid that if you leave me, then I will be rejected and I don't like that feeling. I don't like being single because my security is in this relationship."

Thankfully, I found my way right out of that relationship and eventually gave my life to Jesus after a couple more dysfunctional, purposeless relationships. 

So now, I  KNOW better not to be insecure, right? I gave my life to Jesus, He washes my rejection, hurt and pain away and now I'm all the sudden "confident that He that started a work in me will complete it." - (Philippians 1:6) Psh, I wish. 

I have to be honest, I think some people from the outside looking in, think that for some reason that I have it all together. Like I don't have "ugly" moments, like I don't feel insecure in the calling of ministry, like I don't feel enough. Let me clear this up really quick so that you know you're not the only one. 

I have my moments where I feel absolutely not good enough, not pretty enough, like I didn't preach a sermon right, like I didn't write a blog right, like I didn't do this or that right. 

I want to highlight a few areas where I noticed insecurity hitting us the most as women. 

Let's look at the definition of insecure: to be insecure is to lack confidence or trust, whether in ourselves or someone else.

And to be totally honest and to call it what it is, insecurity is OUR failure to trust God. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

When we are insecure, we are placing our CONFIDENCE and our hope in something ELSE other than Jesus Christ. SO of course this world is wandering around here insecure. Do you know that the plastic surgery business is a BILLION dollar industry? If you don't like it, let's change it to make you more "appealing" to society. You want to get women? Make money. Find ways to make a lot of money so you can attract women. Their hope and security is in looks, money and temporary things. 

So, the first area we are going to look at in regards to getting attacked with insecurity is our looks.

Your looks

In a world of photoshop, airbrush, youtube gurus who have crazy before & afters and whatever else, it may be hard to embrace who God called you to be. As I mentioned earlier, it started out with my looks but then it trickled into other areas where I used those areas to measure my security. Sadly, looks will fail you because they're built on a foundation called society. You may feel like your hair isn't curly enough, or straight enough, or you aren't light enough or dark enough. You may walk into a room with other single Christians and immediately start comparing yourself to them because.. you feel like you're not enough. Or, a guy at church may pass you over (And you REALLY liked him & thought you guys would court Gods way..) for one of your friends. Don't you DARE let insecurity rob you from knowing that God hasn't forgotten about you. God knows the desires of your heart and you lookin' at this fine man at church but God is looking at his HEART. He's saying' baby girl, he may look good to you but his will and purpose doesn't match yours. So, I'm going to protect you from this relationship. I'm going to keep you hidden so he doesn't even look at you. YOU may be thinking it's YOU He doesn't like but it's really God BLINDING his eyes from seeing your beauty. 

On TOP of God hiding you, one group of people MAY think your pretty while in another culture, they think you're unattractive. I recall meeting a family in an african country who told me that my husband was unhappy because he was skinny and I needed to feed him more. Whoa. Huh? In their country, the men and women were much larger because the larger you are, the more "prosperous" and happy you are. Huge change from America huh? 

Today, we must recognize that our looks ain't everything. You can have all the looks in the world and die tomorrow. Or, you could get into an accident and lose your looks. We must settle this truth that 

“And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:10). We must get back to our first love. Our real trust. And that's in Jesus. Our hope and our confidence is in Him, not some mans opinion of us.
So, remember that you are BEAUTIFULLY and wonderfully MADE by God. He makes NO mistakes and your value isn't found in a mans opinion. Settle this truth in your heart.

Lets look at another area where we are attacked, in our "status" or materials. 

Money & Possessions

I believe that the world gives us a false sense of security when it comes to things. So, if you accumulate a lot of things, you're blessed. If you don't have much, you are cursed. If you don't have the latest iPhone, newest car, biggest house, bank account or whatever else, then you're considered a failure. It's almost like whoever has the most toys wins in life and that's totally incorrect and not biblical. The bible is clear when it tells us not to put our hope in things on this earth but in God alone. 

1 Timothy 6:17

New Living Translation (NLT)

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 

I can assure you that money and things will bring insecurity to those who place their hope in them. 

This can go for college as well. You may be getting a ton of degrees to feel valued because you don't feel good about yourself, or you want to "prove" yourself to those who said you wouldn't be anything. What a terrible reason to get into debt! People bondage. Or, even you parents! (gasp!) We must be led by the Lord in our purpose and not others expectations. What if you weren't called to be a lawyer or a doctor? What if God called you to do something else? I know in some cultures, it's considered disrespectful to disobey your parents but I would rather feel some heat on this earth than to stand before God and be judged on an entire life of disobedience all because I wanted to place my earthly parents. If you're in this situation, pray and ask the Lord to change or move on your parents heart

 Matthew 10:37 - "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.  We must love God more than anything or anyone and in loving Him, we remain obedient to Him at all times. We are currently saving for our sons, Logan's "purpose" fund. Not an educational fund. If God doesn't call Him to college, why would we make him go? God may call him to preach. Or to do something else and we support what the Lord has called him to do. I know it's almost unheard of to walk by faith but this is why we have a bunch of people in positions and they are miserable. God aint' call you to that honey, it's time to get on your face & go to where He's telling YOU to go. 

Worrying about the Future

Another area I find that people struggle in and even my own life is being worried about the future. Oh God, what if I never get married? Oh God, what if I can't graduate, oh God, what if my husband divorces me like my dad divorced my mom? What am I going to eat tomorrow? Lord, I don't have any money! I thought you said you would take care of me? Lord, what if the guy I'm courting isn't a good leader, how can I trust him even though I know you showed me he is Gods best!

Matthew 6:31-34

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow.” 

This goes back to my point earlier, insecurity in God providing for you will cause you to doubt HIS provisions! If you doubt that God will provide for you, fear will grow in  your heart followed by no peace and eventually depression. You will begin to meditate on your situation or "what ifs" over, "Lord, you're faithful. I trust you. Show me what to do. Give me wisdom Lord.

Distractions of this world

Insecurity may also result from being preoccupied with the things of the world: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Let's be clear, security is not to be found in this world’s people, things, or institutions, including government institutions. Some people become obsessed with having the right leaders in government, the right laws, and the right policies. When the government is in the wrong hands the nation is doomed. However, the Bible teaches us that God is in control and His sovereignty extends to governmental leaders (Proverbs 21:1; Daniel 2:21). While we should practice good citizenship and vote our conscience, we must also recognize that government policy cannot save us. Only God can do that (Isaiah 33:22; Psalm 143:6). 

Church Leaders, parents, boyfriends or husbands

Lastly, we can at times put our trust and hope in our pastors, parents (especially their bank accounts), boyfriends or husbands. We must understand that MAN can and WILL let you down. Our trust and foundation must be in Christ alone as HE is the only true foundation. “So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic’” (Isaiah 28:16). Jesus is the solid rock and our only hope of security (Matthew 7:24). So, insecurity CAN be birthed from placing all of our hope in the WRONG people and then when you get let down by them, you can began to charge other people like "everybody is the same." Even, (gasp) your husband. I love my husband, but he isn't my god. I look past him and I put my expectations in the Lord and trust Him. What if God forbid, something happened to my husband and all of my hope was in him? And don't let your hope be in your boyfriend who isn't interested in Christ. You will lower your standards because you don't feel good about yourself and do things that are on ungodly to keep this man. Your insecurities are setting your standards, not God. It's time to be free sis. 

These are just a few areas, but let's be real here, the reason for our insecurities is because we are focused on ourselves. We are too preoccupied about our life, our future, our money, our stuff, our looks and everything else. The bible warns against self-absorption and pride in Romans 12:3. Remember that GOD started this work in you and you HAVE to let Him COMPLETE IT! Pull out your scriptures, spend time with God daily, cut off crazy relationships and identify what areas in your life are birthing insecurities!  

True security comes when you recognize that “God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). When struggling with feelings of insecurity, never forget God’s promise: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3). So now, when I get tested, I remind myself that I will believe the best, and that God started and finished a work in YOU and that I trust Him. There's a battle going on in your mind and it's time to surrender that a battle and give it to the Lord. 

Just a few things:

1. Find my (3) books, purity rings, shirts & all that good stuff via pinkypromiseboutiques.com!

2. We have developed an APP! Think: daily post notifications + weekly devotionals, recipes and so much more! It's out NOW for iphones + Androids. Under Heather & Cornelius Lindsey: Today With the Lindsey's

3.  If you live in Atlanta, I want to invite you to our church. Join us on Sundays at 11:00am at Landmark Midtown Art Cinemas. Our churches name is: "The Gathering Oasis"  931 Monroe Drive NE Atlanta, GA. 

4. Register for the 2015 Pinky Promise in Atlanta, GA! It sold out last year and it's ALMOST sold out now, so you don't want to miss out! www.pinkypromiseconference.com 

6. As always, you can join a Pinky Promise group locally! There's about 33,000 ladies that have joined! Find a group near you by joining & checking out the intro page! Join here: www.PinkyPromiseMovement.com

7. Pinky Promise is hosting a statewide baby shower for low income & single mamas in Atlanta, GA on September 12. If you want to donate or be a part of it, please email pinkypromisequestions@gmail.com For donations only, you can send the payment via PayPal to pinkypmovement@gmail.com & be sure to note that its for the Statewide Baby Shower. All donations are tax deductible. 

8. I'm headed to California & VA/DC area in April. Check my calendar for event details!

God loves you like crazy,

Heather Lindsey

"Trusting God Through the Hard Times"

I know that its hard to trust God at times. I know that you have your good days and then you have some really rough days where you're like.. Lord, how long before.. this or that?

I've learned that I can't focus on "this or that" or what I think I'm lacking. My focus must be on the Lord alone because if I ain't content with just Him, then He won't bring things into my life so that I can make those things my idols. 

Philippians 4:11-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength.

So, the secret to not having a man or having a man is Christ. The secret to not getting that promotion or getting it is Christ. The secret to not having a car or having a car in Christ. Now, insert your situation. The answer is knowing that Christ gives you strength to be content and to trust Him, even when you don't understand. So, whether it happens or not, you are content in Christ. Isn't that a powerful statement? You may have read that scripture a million times but maybe it hasn't really become real in your heart. We must come to a place in our walk where we say, "Lord, whether it happens or not, you are my portion, you are my strength, you are my joy. I TRUST you as a good Father to provide what I NEED in due season."

Do I "have" everything I want? 

Gosh, that's no longer my focus. It can't be your focus either. Just wake up, take each day.. day by day and give your days the the Lord. I used to focus on what I didn't have and then those things became amplified in my heart. If you stare at something long enough, that thing will be all you can see. And some of us keep staring at other peoples relationships, other peoples ministries, other peoples success, other peoples this or that. We've taken our eyes off of Christ and we have put them on humans. 

How can we change this?

Our focus must shift from what we think we need to the cross. So, if that door opens or not, it doesn't matter. Our focus was never in that door opening, it's in Christ so if the door opens, great, if not, It wasn't supposed to open so I trust Him. 

My husband and I took a walk the other day and we walked by this apartment building that was being demolished. It looked TERRIBLE! Bulldozers were everywhere and I was thinking, gosh, what a huge undertaking! The Holy Spirit told me that THIS is what we look like when we give our lives to Jesus. It looks like a huge bulldozer came in and destroyed your entire heart. God wrecks our relationships, our old mindset and our lives and then, brick by brick with the RIGHT foundation.. He prepares our hearts. And, this is where it gets hard. 

Why?

Because you're used to a certain level of being comfortable prior to Christ. And although the foundation was jacked up, you were still comfortable in your bondage. You were comfortable in your dysfunctional relationships. You were comfortable in your depression.  You were comfortable in your sin. 

Then Christ came and changed your heart. He convicted you of your sin and the Holy Spirit came in, destroyed the sin and started the real healing process. So, as the foundation is laid.. it can be pretty painful. It can be hard. It can be frustrating. Things can seem slow. God won't allow certain bricks to be laid from your past. Things can seem almost like you're forgotten but you must stay faithful to the Lord an keep living for Him. You cannot stop, you cannot quit, you cannot run back to the vomit that the Lord has freed you from! There's NO profit there! One day, your house will stand tall and beautiful with the RIGHT foundation. So then, when the attacks and the winds of this world come, it won't be able to knock your house down. 

Matthew 7:25 "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."

Jesus is preparing you for ETERNITY. This life is so much bigger than these temporary things. SO, learn to be content RIGHT where you are. An event won't change a discontent heart so even with that child you prayed for, you still may find yourself unhappy. Even with that husband you believed God for, you will still find that he ain't the source of your joy. Even moving to that new location, you will find ways to be unhappy. Being content is a heart issue. Your contentment proves who you trust. 

Who do you trust?

God loves you like crazy,

Heather Lindsey

6 Months Pregnant with baby girl Lindsey! :) Me & my best friend Delan!

Just a few things:

1. Find my (3) books, purity rings, shirts & all that good stuff via pinkypromiseboutiques.com!

2. We have developed an APP! Think: daily post notifications + weekly devotionals, recipes and so much more! It's out NOW for iphones + Androids. Under Heather & Cornelius Lindsey: Today With the Lindsey's

3.  If you live in Atlanta, I want to invite you to our church. Join us on Sundays at 11:00am at Landmark Art Cinemas. Our churches name is: "The Gathering Oasis"  931 Monroe Drive NE Atlanta, GA. We also have our New Years Service at the same place at 10pm EST! Join us! 

4. Register for the 2015 Pinky Promise in Atlanta, GA! It sold out last year, so you don't want to miss out! www.pinkypromiseconference.com 

6. As always, you can join a Pinky Promise group locally! There's about 32,000 ladies that have joined! Find a group near you by joining & checking out the intro page! Join here: www.PinkyPromiseMovement.com

7. Pinky Promise is hosting a statewide baby shower for low income & single mamas in Atlanta, GA on September 12. If you want to donate or be a part of it, please email pinkypromisequestions@gmail.com For donations only, you can send the payment via PayPal to pinkypmovement@gmail.com & be sure to note that its for the Statewide Baby Shower. All donations are tax deductible. 

8. I'm headed to California & VA/DC area in April. Check my calendar for event details!

"Help Me, I Can't Stop Procrastinating"

So, if you're in a season where you feel super sluggish, kinda lazy and you feel like doing nothing, I can relate. Being now 18 weeks pregnant, I have had my days where I only want to lay in the bed for the entire day. But even before I was pregnant, I had my seasons where I struggled in this area. It's almost like, it's on my checklist to take care of this but I just got too busy throughout the day to get to it or by the time I got home, I had zero energy to accomplish that task.

Let's just be honest. We don't see the other side of accomplishing what God told us to do so because we see what we can see, like our jobs, class, school, tending to our families (which are all good things)-- we tend to let being busy overshadow what the Lord told us to do.  If I can be totally honest, some of need to be cured from the "Martha Syndrome" in Luke 10:38.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Some of us are doing "good" things but those things aren't divinely directed by the Holy Spirit to do at that time. So now, you're too busy and too distracted to sit at the feet of Jesus. Although in the back of your mind, you know God told you to write that book, start that organization, break up with that loser boyfriend, distance yourself from that friend that is influencing you, putting the donut down and picking up some veggies or whatever else, you still are TOO busy and TOO distracted to do what He told you to do because EVERYTHING else is keeping you.. busy. EVEN scrolling around online when you DO get free time is dangerous. Because 10 minutes turns into 2 hours. You want to do something that doesn't require thought because you're so overwhelmed by your schedule. 

This is why it's important that we go before the Lord and we ask Him, "Lord, is my schedule pleasing to you? Do I need to remove anything from my schedule that is distracting me?" 

And if I can be totally honest with you, you being lazy or procrastinating about what God told you to do could come from a number of factors. 

1. "Lord, that thing is too big and I don't know how I'm going to do it." 

My thoughts: Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Great! It's supposed to be bigger than you! If it wasn't then you would probably think that you can handle it alone!

2."I'm afraid to step out on faith because I'm scared of failing." 

My thoughts: Well, in our own ability, you should be afraid but when you step out on faith, it's not about you-- it's about bringing glory to God so if HE started the work in you, HE will complete it. And where did you get that fear from? 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." And who told you that you're going to fail? Mama & them? 

3." I don't know where to start."

My thoughts:  Whose voice are you listening too? If we are listening to the Lord, then He will instruct us, open the right doors and send the right people to help. My "ministry" started long before I started blogging. It started when I bagged groceries at the grocery store when I was 16. It started when I worked for difficult bosses. It started when I stopped stealing the staples and the ink from my company for my bible studies. THEN after I started to grow, walk in love, forgive people that were mean to me, get stripped of just about everything.. the Lord told me to start blogging. THEN, all of ya'll came out of nowhere. (group hug! :) ) So, your full time ministry is wherever you are right.. now. 

4. "I don't have time to do those things that I know I need to do."

My thoughts: You don't lack time, you lack desire. You desire a paycheck so you go to work. You desire to build your friendships, so you have girl time. When you're hungry you pursue food. When your spirit man is starved you get on Facebook. You procrastinate. You call friends and pour your heart out. You go online shopping. You run internally. You desire and pursue the things that you give your attention to on a regular basis. And lets be honest, at times, you just don't desire God and the proof in that pudding is your lack of time with Him. If you knew that you had a scheduled breakfast every morning with Jesus and He would physically come down from heaven, you would be right there to sit and eat with him. You would cook breakfast, make sure the house was together.. (Martha..) and you would NEVER miss a day with Him. Well, He sent the Holy Spirit and He's as real as the person sitting next to you. 

5. "I don't know when it's Gods time to open that door."

My thoughts: I can relate to this. I wanted to sell bedazzled journals and shirts with purpose before I opened up my Pinky Promise Boutique but my husband cautioned that it wasn't the right time. This was about 2 months before I started Pinky Promise. I also attempted to go to grad school for what I'm doing now.. and I didn't need it (before I got married.) I at times ran ahead of God and I had to quickly understand that I needed to slow down and be led by His spirit, not what I think I needed to do to accomplish the will of God. Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." So procrastinating may not be your issue. Your issue may be not trusting Gods timing and SPRINTING past Him. Either way, it's just as dangerous because you create "Towers of Babel" that HE never told you to build. So, acknowledge Him and I can ASSURE you that He will show you when it's the right time. You will just KNOW because you talk to Him at breakfast every morning alone.. & then though out the day.

Now that we understand that we are giving excuses to why we can't do things, I want to encourage you that nations are waiting for your obedience. Other people are directly IMPACTED by your disobedience. For example, what if I never started Pinky Promise? We currently have over 31,000 ladies in the organization that made a decision to honor God with their bodies and life. What if I was afraid to share my pitfalls? What if I was afraid to share my past because of what others think of me? Then I would be skipping around here like my life is so perfect and that I've never had an issue which would help NOBODY. This crazy world needs YOU. They need your story. They need your transparency. They need you to be obedient to what God told YOU to do. They need YOU because you were created to solve a problem and due to the reasons above, you've been pushing off whatever. Now, don't rush ahead, create a go fund me account or copy somebody else's ministry or business. Go and sit before the Lord. Paul and Peter didn't have a go fund me, they had Jesus and we have Him too who is our ultimate Provider. Now, God can USE a go fund me account if He tells you to start one, but most of us, lets be honest.. He told you to trust Him & stop asking humans to fund your tower of babel. (genesis 11) 

There is a SPIRIT behind this area that is trying to keep you from obeying God! We bind that spirit in the name of Jesus! Satan doesn't care if you spend all day looking at pornography or all day on Facebook, as long as you aren't spending all day in Gods Book.

So, cheers to stepping out on faith. Let's just start. Right now. No holding back. No questioning God. No rationalizing. No more intentional sin. No more chasing down little Johnny cuz' we lonely. It's time to grow up and mature and do what the Lord is telling  US to do! 

Just a few things:

1. Find my (3) books, purity rings, shirts & all that good stuff via www.pinkypromiseboutiques.com!

2. We have developed an APP! Think: daily post notifications + weekly devotionals, recipes and so much more! It's out NOW for iphones + Androids. Under Heather & Cornelius Lindsey: Today With the Lindsey's

3.  If you live in Atlanta, I want to invite you to our church. Join us on Sundays at 11:00am at Landmark Art Cinemas. Our churches name is: "The Gathering Oasis"  931 Monroe Drive NE Atlanta, GA. We also have our New Years Service at the same place at 10pm EST! Join us! 

4. Register for the 2015 Pinky Promise in Atlanta, GA! It sold out last year, so you don't want to miss out! www.pinkypromiseconference.com 

6. As always, you can join a Pinky Promise group locally! There's about 31,000 ladies that have joined! Find a group near you by joining & checking out the intro page! Join here: www.PinkyPromiseMovement.com

7. Pinky Promise is hosting a statewide baby shower for low income & single mamas in Atlanta, GA on September 12. If you want to donate or be a part of it, please email pinkypromisequestions@gmail.com For donations only, you can send the payment via PayPal to pinkypmovement@gmail.com & be sure to note that its for the Statewide Baby Shower. All donations are tax deductible. 

God loves you like crazy!

Love you all!

Heather Lindsey 

My crew after church this past sunday!
We are 18 weeks pregnant with our baby girl! :)

"Why Most People Waste Their Single Life"

Can I let you in on a very real conversation I had with my husband tonight?

Me: Babe, I have a speaking engagement in September in this certain state. 

Cornelius: Is it confirmed? 

Me: No, they just requested me. 

Cornelius: We will have a newborn and a 2 year old. Heather, I know you want to help people and I get it but we can't be so focused on going on the road that we aren't taking care of our home.
*Sorry, I didn't announce it here, but I am pregnant! :) Due early July 2015*

Me: Wait, what babe? I never leave the home unkept!

Cornelius: I know Heather, but things are changing now. Your family is a priority before your speaking engagements. If you travel on Friday or Saturday, then I would have to study with 2 babies and then get them ready for church. So, if you plan on going or you really feel led to go to a certain one, make sure that my mom or someone is here to keep the babies so we can keep this ship moving.

Me: You're right. I will adjust and make sure that I'm taking as many and I will be sure to be led by the Lord.

My family 

As soon as our conversation finished, this scripture grew in my heart:

1 Corinthians 7:33-35

I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.

But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

You maybe thinking, "HEATHER! That is NOT fair! How is he going to tell you that you cannot take as many speaking engagements? Why can't you just take one kid with you? Why not this.. why not that? How is he gonna CONTROL you?! Nobody should control you! 

Well, to answer that question: 


Matthew 11:5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

My  husband and I are one flesh. YOU lose the right to be "independent" of him or her when you get married. You have a responsibility to ANSWER to someone else. You left your family, your single life, your ways, your mindset, your decisions and you become ONE flesh with your spouse. And.. if you do run off & ignore what they say..

Mark 3:25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Amos 3:3 How can two walk together unless they agree?

So if you continue in your separate thinking, your house will be divided and it won't stand. There will be frustration, confusion and sorrow. WHY bring that independent, rebellious attitude into a marriage? Then, when you have kids.. they will feel the wrath and so will your spouse who feels like a single parent. This is why you make sure you discuss these things before the ring. I knew that my husband was a family man (as I'm family woman) & I knew that the priority was family first, THEN ministry. He didn't want a wife that was out of the home for 90 hours a week, so I wasn't surprised. Same goes from me to him. I didn't want a husband that traveled and was out of the home for 90 hours a week. I didn't want a man that was NEVER at home. I didn't want a man that never came home at night. 

Even in the above, I was tempted to think the same way as many of you that read that first part until the birth of our son Logan. Then, I realized how much he needs his mama. I realized that God gave me a responsibility to raise and teach Logan and I cannot push that responsibility off on mama in law & them. I'm still breastfeeding Logan at 21 months and when I'm away, I have to pump, prepare and travel with the milk. When I'm not at home, there's a missing piece in our household.  I put down Logan every night for bed and I enjoy these moments that we can never get back. We have a church and a local responsibility so on Sundays, I get our son ready and I'm up with him at night. I want my husband to be prepared and alert to preach on Sunday morning. My family needs me. What good am I if I run all over the world to help everybody else but I'm neglecting to take care of my first responsibility, my FIRST ministry, my HOME?

Titus 2:4-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

"These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children,

To live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,[a] to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God."

Now, don't get me wrong. I get that women can work outside the home. I get that they can travel without their families. I get it. BUT you have to do what works for YOUR home. In my home, we travel together, work together and pretty much do everything together. We do take man trips & girl trips here & there. There's no "law" in our home. BUT there is a level or respect that says, my family is FIRST after God. (So, GOD is our entire foundation as He comes first, then my family, work & ministry life) My husband rarely takes speaking engagements mostly because he thinks it will disrupt the flow of our home and traveling with children takes ALOT out of you. We don't want our son to feel second to ministry as a preachers child. I believe that most "PK"s rebel because mama & daddy put them second to the church and the stage. I've talked to the most stable PK's & I'm like.. WHAT did your parents do differently? They always respond: "they included me in everything. They never felt like they had to compete with the church." And in our home, we like to set that same atmosphere. You still may not understand why we do what we do.. but you could only REALLY understand if you lived in our home with us! :) It works for US. So, communicate with your one-day spouse & get on the same page PRIOR to "I do" so you can make sure there's no huge surprises there. 

NOW to main point.

If you're single. Excuse my english: 

You aint gotta deal with that. 

If you're single you can go backpack in Europe for 6 months, eat cereal every night for dinner and nobody will complain, you can take a job as a flight attendant and fly all over the world! You can join 20 ministries at church and devote your weekends to your friends and feeding the homeless. You can go do missions in Africa for 6 months, you can wear yoga pants ALL day long with your hair wrapped up.

This isn't to "high" five single life or to bash marriage because BOTH have their proper seasons. The focus is to get you to realize that some of ya'll are WASTING your single life WONDERING "When your Adam is going to wake up?!" You're worried about God's timing. You're wondering, hoping and wishing about your husband. Every new guy that comes in the church "is your husband" and your focus is totally off! There's a SEASON under the sun for everything! You are literally WAITING for your life to start when you meet that "person." So, you won't buy a house, you won't buy a bed, you won't do much of anything because you're "waiting for your  man."

You've made it an idol. 

Let's look at this example: 

If I'm walking towards a building, my eyes are totally on the building. I'm not focused on what's going on around me, my eyes are glued to the building. My focus is set. I'm headed in that direction. 

This is how it should be when we are single and this prepares us for marriage. Our eyes our set on Jesus! He's our foundation, our hope, our peace, our wisdom, our joy! 

But, some of us are focused on the shed that is opposite of the "building." Although we know that we should trust God & live for Him.. we still feel like maybe God is taking too long and we have to "help" Him out. So, we take our focus from the building to the shed. But if you would turn around and focus back on the building with the RIGHT foundation, then God can really lead your life. There will be many seasons in your life. You will have quiet seasons. You will have seasons where God has you busy. You will have seasons where you feel lonely. You will have seasons where God wants you to travel. You may ask, Heather, I don't have the money do "do what I want to do." Honey, if God wants you to do it, He will provide a way! Let Him lead your footsteps. 

I look back over my life and I believe that I wasted ALOT of time as a single. I remember that I had an opportunity to go study abroad to London during my Junior Year in college but I passed on it because my then boyfriend didn't want to go. I was so insecure that he was going to cheat on me, (which he did when I was right down the street) so I PASSED on going to London for some man that I ain't with today. That was just ONE of many time wasters when I was single. 

Do I miss being single?

Single Days NYC 2004

                                                             

Of course not! I LOVE my little family. But I DO miss the FREE time that I once had to roam about uninterrupted. This morning, I was woken up by a 21 month old at 6AM who wanted me to make him some juice. So, I woke up and made juice. Then, he started screaming, "Eggs mommy! I want eggs!!" So, I made him eggs. (Mind you, I'm 3 months pregnant and still battling morning sickness). Daddy was downstairs working out and I didn't want to interrupt him.. so, to making the eggs I went. Then, I needed to change his diaper. Get him showered, dressed. Then,  pray, then read, then do this.. then do that. 

I USED to wake up when I was single and I would go straight to my quiet time bay window and I would spend an hour with the Lord before work. 

Life has surely changed. And I wouldn't change it for everything but it does put things in perspective. I am THANKFUL that I set a foundation as a single to spend time with God because now that I'm married, it's even HARDER to get to that place but because I KNOW better, I am intentional about that time. So, don't wake up in regret one day of all of the time you wasted when you could have been TOTALLY devoted to the Lord. 

If you have children and you're not married, you may be thinking, what about me?

I'm not sure if your situation but if you have shared custody, you're still free to run around when your child is with the other parent! Or, if you have good, solid family members that will keep your child while you're away-- that's great too! Just don't stay away too long because again, you have responsibilities to be a mother or father. 

I pray that you really hear my heart on this. When you trust God's timing, you will be focusing on HIM, not WHEN.

And honestly, this mindset of "waiting" for your man doesn't hold too well in marriage. Once you DO get married, you will look to your spouse to fill every void, every hobby and make you happy because you set in your mind for YEARS that a relationship will ONLY make you happy. It's like it was the missing piece to your joy. But GOD is the only missing FOUNDATION and from Him comes all gifts. I ran into this problem when we got married because I made everything about my husband that I didn't have a LIFE. Those first 6 months were hard because we moved to a new state and we didn't have friends. But in my "head" I had this fantasy of what I think marriage should be like and I put PRESSURE on my now husband in the beginning because of this lie I made up in my head. Things got much better after I started blogging, doing small groups with women then eventually starting Pinky Promise because life was back dependent on God and not a human. My husband is amazing, but a terrible god.

Don't train your mindset to think that joy comes from people. It comes from the Lord.

So, what do you do?

1. Go spend time with God.  Let Him lead & direct your paths.
2. Find a good church home that teaches the TRUE word of God. Not all that crazy, weird, confusion.
3. Join a local Pinky Promise Group for sisterhood. (Or find something in your area with like-minded Christians
4. Obey God immediately.
5. Renew your mind daily. You can't live off of last weeks bible study.

Hugs!

God loves you like crazy,

Heather Lindsey

And then there were 4. Coming soon: July 2015

Just a few things:

1. Find my books, purity rings, shirts & all that good stuff via www.pinkypromiseboutiques.com!

2. We have developed an APP! Think: daily post notifications + weekly devotionals, recipes and so much more! It's out NOW for iphones + Androids. Under Heather & Cornelius Lindsey: Today With the Lindsey's

3.  If you live in Atlanta, I want to invite you to our church. Join us on Sundays at 11:00am at Landmark Art Cinemas. Our churches name is: "The Gathering Oasis"  931 Monroe Drive NE Atlanta, GA. We also have our New Years Service at the same place at 10pm EST! Join us! 

4. My book is selling like crazy! I'm so thankful for all of you that have supported! Check it out here: My New Book! Pink Lips & Empty Hearts:  www.PinkLipsAndEmptyHearts.com AND my new book,  Dusty Crowns, here! 

5. Register for the 2015 Pinky Promise in Atlanta, GA! It sold out last year, so you don't want to miss out! www.pinkypromiseconference.com 

6. As always, you can join a Pinky Promise group locally! There's about 30,000 ladies that have joined! Find a group near you by joining & checking out the intro page! Join here:www.PinkyPromiseMovement.com

Trusting God in the Workplace: But Lord, I Had an Excuse to be Mean!"

Ever felt like you had an excuse to cut up or treat someone bad? Maybe, someone treated you badly? Maybe things didn't go your way or maybe you feel like you had a RIGHT to be upset. 

I have felt the SAME way. Let me share my story.. 

I was working with a venue for an event and I felt like the customer service was TERRIBLE. I am passionate about the events that the Lord gives me and I felt like the person I was working with was like a grimy used car salesman, trying to get over on me. 

I was ready to take my issues to corporate because I wanted everybody to feel my wrath. 

Then, the Lord AND my husband convicted my heart. 

The Lord said, the same grace that I give you daily.. I need you to give it to them. 

Wait, WHAT LORD? I don't like how they do business! As I fussed at Him, tears came to my eyes. Why is it that I am so hard on others (even if they are wrong) but at the same time I forget that I need the same grace from the Lord daily?! I'm reminded of this story in Matthew 18: 24-33:

 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

I'm reminded of this because I am the person that owes a tiny bit. When I messed up in the past, I begged God to forgive me! As I repent daily for any known or unknown sin, I'm humbled by His grace & desperately need Him! Everything is great. THEN, I get tested with the person who is trying to WORK my nerves.. AND I want him to know that I think you're trying to get over on me and I don't like bad business! 

SO, because God forgave ME, I'm going to trust His word when He says .. "A gentle answer turns away wrath." Instead of fussing with whoever, I'm going to really let God fight my battles. I'm going to trust His timing and His ways and know that I don't have to be this all-powerful-superwoman-business woman. I need to be a servant of the Lord and trust that HE has my back. Its like, over the years I worked with high power business women that were at times, difficult to work with and no-nonsense. And I think it's ok to have standards and be a good business woman BUT if we are being mean, rude and just plain emotional, that aint biblical.  So, please, don't take this that you have to be some wimp. The Proverbs 31 woman was a STRONG businesswoman but she understood submission to God & her husband. She knew that she had to be led by God in her dealings and not what she picked up from other bosses. 

Lets ponder this: HOW are we any different than the world if we fight like them? Bicker like them? Argue like them? I had to ask myself, Heather.. where did you get this mindset concerning doing business?

Romans 12:2 says "And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

And, my husband checked me.. in saying that I needed to speak directly to who is causing the strife, not run to his manager and complain. Now, THAT was hard but He was right. I never had a full convo with the guy and it's been through email. Is it even fair? Even after we had our conversation, I still wasn't 100% satisfied but I realized that the Lord is growing my faith. Even if my event is Christian and I want Gods glory to hit that place.. along the way I may work with unbelievers. I may work with people that are trying to ruffle my feathers & are being used by the enemy! If the enemy knows what drives me nuts, he's gonna send people my way to distract me in that very area. BUT God will use it to mature me if I pass the test. 

So, are you giving into the bait of that co-worker.. that family member... that friend.. that boss that is DRIVING you up the wall? This is your chance to grow! You've been asking God to use you and then when the test came, you ran! You responded like you used to in the world! The proof is in your pudding honey and at times we can be so emotional that we don't even give the Lord a chance to FIGHT on our behalf. 

So, who is fighting your battles?

You?

Or the Lord?

It MAY be hard to grasp this concept of truly resting and trusting the Lord because we are in a society that screams, "MOVE, take ACTION, STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!" But at the same time, the Lord may be speaking into your heart to rest. With a whisper He is trying to show you your own heart. That you move & take action and you don't wait for his response. You move based on your high emotions. You move based on how you feel that day. You move based on what you saw on TV. You move based on what mama & whoever said. God sent you to that place to be an example but.. you haven't started because you're too busy arguing with spirits. We have to remember that this fight is not PHYSICAL but spiritual! 

And don't get me wrong, there's a time for correction in the workplace. But I can assure you that God will show you where YOU need to change long before He shows you where your co-worker needs to change. 

BUT guess what? God repays us when we are treated badly & we are honoring Him.  I don't know about you, but I want the Lords rewards.. not this worlds. (1 Peter 2)

How long must the Lord fight with you to get His point across? 

Just a few things:

1. There's a BOOK sale today & tomorrow! ALL of our books are only $10 each! Check it out via www.pinkypromiseboutiques.com. No code needed! :)

2. We have developed an APP! Think: daily post notifications + weekly devotionals, recipes and so much more! It's out NOW for iphones + Androids. Under Heather & Cornelius Lindsey: Today With the Lindsey's

3.  If you live in Atlanta, I want to invite you to our church. Join us on Sundays at 11:00am at Landmark Art Cinemas. Our churches name is: "The Gathering Oasis"  931 Monroe Drive NE Atlanta, GA. We also have our New Years Service at the same place at 10pm EST!

4. My book is selling like crazy! I'm so thankful for all of you that have supported! Check it out here: My New Book! Pink Lips & Empty Hearts:  www.PinkLipsAndEmptyHearts.com AND my new book,  Dusty Crowns, here! 

5. Register for the 2015 Pinky Promise in Atlanta, GA! It sold out last year, so you don't want to miss out! www.pinkypromiseconference.com 

6. As always, you can join a Pinky Promise group locally! There's about 30,000 ladies that have joined! Find a group near you by joining & checking out the intro page! Join here:www.PinkyPromiseMovement.com

God loves you like crazy, 

I love ya'll!

Heather Lindsey