October 12, 2023 • 18 mins
Ever found yourself in a transition, and all of a sudden, you're not doing the things you love anymore? I've been there! Traveling, moving, rebranding my business, even venturing into a failed book club - these unexpected turns caught me off guard and tested my ability to guard my heart and protect my passions. As I navigated these transitions, I realized I had replaced my love for writing with journaling and scripting podcasts. This revelation led me on a journey of self-discovery and understanding the importance of staying aligned with God's calling, despite life's curveballs.
Resources Mentioned on the Episode and suggested reading & social media handles:
· Morning Prayer Reference Sheet
Calls to Action:
· Sign up for The Me Project Academy Newsletter for resources on developing disciplines to help you grow in Christ, prayer and new releases of the podcast.
· Website: www.hangingoutwithjesuspodcast.com
· @hangingoutwithjesuspodcast (Instagram)
· @themeprojectacademy (Pinterest)
· support@themeprojectacademy.com (for comments)
www.goodreads.com/lyvitabrooks
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lyvita Brooks (00:01):
Welcome to Hanging Out with Jesus Podcast,
where we equip the Saints forMinistry by bringing tips,
interviews, inspiration andinformation on how to live
intentionally and dealing withChrist.
For more resources, includingyour free newsletter, visit
(00:22):
HangingOutWithJesusPodcastcom orclick the link in the show
notes.
Hi, I'm Levita Brooks.
Author, bible teacher, founderof the Me Project Academy and
your host.
Thanks for supporting thisministry and rating and
commenting on the blog andwhatever podcast platform you're
(00:45):
listening to, because then itmakes us feel more like a
conversation.
If this is your first timelistening in.
Welcome.
This is episode 86.
Our focus is on how to handlethe transitions you know going
from one season of your life toanother, whether it's unexpected
(01:09):
, forced or your choice.
Transitions can cause you tolose the love of things you
enjoy if you aren't careful andmore is coming up.
Let's pray Our Father, who artin heaven.
(01:31):
Hallowed is your name.
Thank you for this time, thismoment of being in your presence
.
Open our ears to hear what youwant us to grab, hold to, and
open my mouth to speaking a waythat gives you glory and comfort
for my brothers and sisters inChrist.
(01:54):
Teach us how to guard ourhearts so we might not sin
against you.
It is in the saving name ofJesus Christ that we pray.
Amen and amen.
Now come walk with me where weintentionally and daily hang out
(02:20):
with Jesus.
What's happening in the MeProject Academy?
Well, there are two things I'dlike to share.
First and this is something asnew business owners and those of
you who are just starting outin ministry need to know
everything doesn't always go theway you planned it or the way
(02:45):
you expected.
Sometimes the Lord has otherlessons that he needs to teach
you.
For example, I provided theopportunity for y'all to
register for the Nuggets BookClub.
I heard cricket no, no, no, no,no, no, no, no.
The silence was louder than thecrickets.
(03:10):
Now, saints, I could havegotten all frustrated, mad and
teet off, but I didn't, becauseI've learned this this time.
God has you starting thingsjust to get you prepared for
when he is about to bring anincrease.
Now there are other reasonsthis could have flopped, but for
(03:30):
sure I've learned how to set upa book club, the foundation,
how to invite others to join in,what software is needed and how
to make it Christ-centered.
Saints, I'm going to have mymonthly meeting with the Lord
(03:51):
soon, so I'll find out where hewants me to go with us.
I'm going to give up on whatGod's told you to do or sent you
to do.
Do it because the increasecomes from him, not you.
Second, saints, I'm in theprocess of rebranding the
(04:15):
business, giving it a makeover,so look out for the finished
work in February 20, 2024.
So far, saints, this year I'vetraveled I-95 at least once a
(04:36):
month, and sometimes twice,taking my uncle and aunt back
and forth to see each other.
Oh, thank God, my cousin wasdriving also, and at times more
than me.
So this is the year my nephewis in college for the first time
and as an auntie I was soexcited for him.
(05:00):
I had another transition thisyear and that's that I moved.
Now, that's a lot, y'all.
It's a lot that happened thisyear so far, since you know,
january to October.
(05:21):
But with so many things changingin my life, so many transitions
, nothing got lost in the sauceof life.
It was gradual, slowly,unexpectedly, until it stopped
and I didn't even know it.
This has ever happened to youwhere something you loved doing
(05:47):
you stopped and didn't realizeit until something altered or
triggered your spirit.
Things I stopped writing Deadsmacked not happening, because
somewhere in my mind.
When I write my scripts forpodcast episodes, I'm thinking
(06:10):
I'm writing.
And when I journal at night,well, that's writing.
When in actuality it's threedifferent things.
Here I'm thinking I'm doingGod's will by doing two things
he wants me to do, but not allof what he called me to do.
(06:33):
For such a time as this, saints,I was being disobedient and
didn't know it.
This wasn't a writer's blocktime, nor a major life happening
event.
Wow, this was a gradualcancelling out of doing
(06:53):
something I love, because thetransitions were taking up my
time.
It seemed like when I write inthe morning, we'd have to go
down south, or it's the onlytime for doctor's appointments.
Then I switched to the nightand sleep crept in.
(07:16):
But moving that took a lot outof me and there was a lot of
organizing, trying to get thingsjust right so everything could
run smoothly.
Well then, the constanttransitioning, changing,
changing back and forth, tryingto have quiet time in the
(07:36):
morning, quiet time at night Allthis stuff started to turn out
to just not doing it at all.
And it wasn't because I wasn'ttrying, it was just.
It was because I now replacedit with journaling and writing
episodes, so it wasn't like Iwas missing.
(07:57):
It Interesting how I could dothose two with intention.
You know the journaling andwriting episodes, but not the
writing.
Hmm, this is something we haveto watch out for the gradual
(08:21):
moving away from what God'scalled us to do, because life is
pushing all these transitionalseasons in our life at one time,
causing us to make quick anddrastic changes, unexpected
changes.
(08:43):
Do you know what triggered myheart that something was wrong?
The lack of quiet time in themorning.
I found myself gettingirritable because I was missing
too much quiet time, orshortening it just so I could
take care of going up and down95 and moving.
(09:03):
True, I thought about storiesto write, but just didn't write
it down.
I remember putting one on myphone, but that's as far as a
guy.
Quiet time with the Lord isimportant to me.
I don't leave my house withoutsaying my morning prayer.
(09:26):
It's like my time with the Lord, where I put on a whole armor
of God in preparation fortoday's journey.
I put a link in the show notesif you want a copy of that
prayer Then.
Hanging out with him for praise, worship, devotional journaling
, listening, you know, prayingover the schedule for the day
(09:49):
and prayer Saint all of that isincorporated in my morning time
with the Lord.
I missed it.
Just think the trigger for menot writing was because I wasn't
(10:12):
doing a daily spiritualdiscipline Quiet time, quiet
time Isn't that interesting.
Quiet time is a routine thathelps direct my day, inspiring
me to be all God's call me to be, to hang out with him.
As a believer, practicingspiritual disciplines are
(10:36):
important.
It's the meat that makes thesauce taste sweet.
Ah.
But here's my question to you,saints what do you do that will
trigger you that you are offtrack or have stopped doing what
you love to do in the Lord?
(10:57):
Psalms 119 says how can a youngman keep his way pure?
By guarding it, according toyour word.
Proverbs 4.23 says above allelse, guard your heart, for
(11:21):
everything you do flows from it.
Philippians 4.67 says Do not beanxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer andsupplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made knownto God, and the peace of God,
(11:45):
which surpasses allunderstanding, will guard your
heart and your minds in ChristJesus.
Romans 10.17 says so.
Faith comes from hearing, andhearing through a word of Christ
(12:05):
.
Just from these verses, andthere's more.
Once you search the scriptures,you will find that the thing
that will help you stay on trackand trigger you when you have
stopped doing.
What you love to do is theBible.
(12:27):
Now, saints, what spiritualdiscipline must you do daily to
keep you in God's word?
Jeremiah 29.13 says you willseek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart.
Psalm 73.28 says but for me itis good to be near God.
(12:54):
I have made the Lord, god myrefuge.
That I may tell of all yourworks.
Psalms 119.105 says your wordis a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.
Colossians 3.16 says Let theword of Christ dwell in you,
(13:17):
richly teaching and admonishingone another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns andspiritual songs with
thankfulness in your heart toGod.
It's clear the spiritualdiscipline of being in God's
presence.
(13:37):
For me, that's quiet time inthe morning where I feast on his
word and listen for his voice.
What about you?
What spiritual discipline doyou practice regularly?
Is dwelling on the word of Goda part of it?
Also?
It's time to guard our heartsby simply being intentional
(14:04):
about spending time with Jesus.
The more words you get in you,the more the Holy Spirit has to
work with and the less likelyyou will stray too far from
God's word in his presence.
Remember Christ is in yourheart, for where your treasure
(14:26):
is, there will be your heartalso.
Now, if Christ is in our heartand our treasure can be found in
our heart, wouldn't that standto reason that the word of God
should be in your heart?
Isn't the Bible about Christ,our Savior?
(14:46):
So, saints, here's anopportunity for growth.
Take your daily quiet time moreseriously.
If you stopped, start again.
If you haven't stopped butdon't find it exciting anymore,
then take that time to examineyourself.
Take your Bible, pen andjournal to your quiet coffee
(15:09):
place.
Let the Lord know you've cometo hang out with Him and there
is something you really, reallywant His guidance on.
Talk to Him about everythingyou love doing that God's called
you to do.
Be a gift, talent or skill?
He's given you what you enjoyto your heart, inspiration, to
(15:33):
your life that you stopped doingor seem to have lost a spark
for.
Then begin journaling, writingdown whatever comes to your mind
about 15 minutes.
If a Bible verse comes up, thenlook it up.
Think of this time as setting upyour foundation, or you're
(15:59):
examining yourself, because onceyou have this foundation of
having your Bible, pen, journaland a quiet place where you're
asking the Lord questions andyou're seeking His face.
That's your foundation Thrust,how that expands and grows.
(16:22):
Well, that's between you andGod.
Remember, when you spend timewith the Lord, he will spend
time with you.
Saves, he wants to commune withyou.
You are the opportunity for Godto bring about an increase not
just in your life, but in othersas well.
(16:43):
So be that opportunity byhiding His Word in your heart so
you might not sin against Him.
Let's pray.
Let's pray at night.
Blessed are you, o Lord.
Teach us your statues Spark ineven greater desire to spend
(17:06):
time with you and in your Word.
Help us to guard our heartaccording to your Word as we
seek you with our whole heart.
Let us not wander from yourcommandments, but store up your
Word in our hearts so we mightnot sin against you.
We want our delight to be inyour statues so we will not
(17:31):
forget your Word.
We want to commune with you.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amenand Amen.
Thanks for listening.
(17:51):
This helps in moving it forwardto being heard by other
believers.
Also, if you haven't done so,get your free twice a month
newsletter to keep up with newreleases of the podcast and
(18:12):
monthly opportunities on how tolive intentionally and daily in
Christ, and much more.
All of us.
And more can be found,including my contact information
on hanging out withJesusPodcastcom or the show
notes.
So until we meet again on theairway, intentionally and daily
(18:41):
hang out with Jesus, shalom.
Welcome to Hanging Out with Jesus Podcast,
where we equip the Saints forMinistry by bringing tips,
interviews, inspiration andinformation on how to live
intentionally and dealing withChrist.
For more resources, includingyour free newsletter, visit
(00:22):
HangingOutWithJesusPodcastcom orclick the link in the show
notes.
Hi, I'm Levita Brooks.
Author, bible teacher, founderof the Me Project Academy and
your host.
Thanks for supporting thisministry and rating and
commenting on the blog andwhatever podcast platform you're
(00:45):
listening to, because then itmakes us feel more like a
conversation.
If this is your first timelistening in.
Welcome.
This is episode 86.
Our focus is on how to handlethe transitions you know going
from one season of your life toanother, whether it's unexpected
(01:09):
, forced or your choice.
Transitions can cause you tolose the love of things you
enjoy if you aren't careful andmore is coming up.
Let's pray Our Father, who artin heaven.
(01:31):
Hallowed is your name.
Thank you for this time, thismoment of being in your presence
.
Open our ears to hear what youwant us to grab, hold to, and
open my mouth to speaking a waythat gives you glory and comfort
for my brothers and sisters inChrist.
(01:54):
Teach us how to guard ourhearts so we might not sin
against you.
It is in the saving name ofJesus Christ that we pray.
Amen and amen.
Now come walk with me where weintentionally and daily hang out
(02:20):
with Jesus.
What's happening in the MeProject Academy?
Well, there are two things I'dlike to share.
First and this is something asnew business owners and those of
you who are just starting outin ministry need to know
everything doesn't always go theway you planned it or the way
(02:45):
you expected.
Sometimes the Lord has otherlessons that he needs to teach
you.
For example, I provided theopportunity for y'all to
register for the Nuggets BookClub.
I heard cricket no, no, no, no,no, no, no, no.
The silence was louder than thecrickets.
(03:10):
Now, saints, I could havegotten all frustrated, mad and
teet off, but I didn't, becauseI've learned this this time.
God has you starting thingsjust to get you prepared for
when he is about to bring anincrease.
Now there are other reasonsthis could have flopped, but for
(03:30):
sure I've learned how to set upa book club, the foundation,
how to invite others to join in,what software is needed and how
to make it Christ-centered.
Saints, I'm going to have mymonthly meeting with the Lord
(03:51):
soon, so I'll find out where hewants me to go with us.
I'm going to give up on whatGod's told you to do or sent you
to do.
Do it because the increasecomes from him, not you.
Second, saints, I'm in theprocess of rebranding the
(04:15):
business, giving it a makeover,so look out for the finished
work in February 20, 2024.
So far, saints, this year I'vetraveled I-95 at least once a
(04:36):
month, and sometimes twice,taking my uncle and aunt back
and forth to see each other.
Oh, thank God, my cousin wasdriving also, and at times more
than me.
So this is the year my nephewis in college for the first time
and as an auntie I was soexcited for him.
(05:00):
I had another transition thisyear and that's that I moved.
Now, that's a lot, y'all.
It's a lot that happened thisyear so far, since you know,
january to October.
(05:21):
But with so many things changingin my life, so many transitions
, nothing got lost in the sauceof life.
It was gradual, slowly,unexpectedly, until it stopped
and I didn't even know it.
This has ever happened to youwhere something you loved doing
(05:47):
you stopped and didn't realizeit until something altered or
triggered your spirit.
Things I stopped writing Deadsmacked not happening, because
somewhere in my mind.
When I write my scripts forpodcast episodes, I'm thinking
(06:10):
I'm writing.
And when I journal at night,well, that's writing.
When in actuality it's threedifferent things.
Here I'm thinking I'm doingGod's will by doing two things
he wants me to do, but not allof what he called me to do.
(06:33):
For such a time as this, saints,I was being disobedient and
didn't know it.
This wasn't a writer's blocktime, nor a major life happening
event.
Wow, this was a gradualcancelling out of doing
(06:53):
something I love, because thetransitions were taking up my
time.
It seemed like when I write inthe morning, we'd have to go
down south, or it's the onlytime for doctor's appointments.
Then I switched to the nightand sleep crept in.
(07:16):
But moving that took a lot outof me and there was a lot of
organizing, trying to get thingsjust right so everything could
run smoothly.
Well then, the constanttransitioning, changing,
changing back and forth, tryingto have quiet time in the
(07:36):
morning, quiet time at night Allthis stuff started to turn out
to just not doing it at all.
And it wasn't because I wasn'ttrying, it was just.
It was because I now replacedit with journaling and writing
episodes, so it wasn't like Iwas missing.
(07:57):
It Interesting how I could dothose two with intention.
You know the journaling andwriting episodes, but not the
writing.
Hmm, this is something we haveto watch out for the gradual
(08:21):
moving away from what God'scalled us to do, because life is
pushing all these transitionalseasons in our life at one time,
causing us to make quick anddrastic changes, unexpected
changes.
(08:43):
Do you know what triggered myheart that something was wrong?
The lack of quiet time in themorning.
I found myself gettingirritable because I was missing
too much quiet time, orshortening it just so I could
take care of going up and down95 and moving.
(09:03):
True, I thought about storiesto write, but just didn't write
it down.
I remember putting one on myphone, but that's as far as a
guy.
Quiet time with the Lord isimportant to me.
I don't leave my house withoutsaying my morning prayer.
(09:26):
It's like my time with the Lord, where I put on a whole armor
of God in preparation fortoday's journey.
I put a link in the show notesif you want a copy of that
prayer Then.
Hanging out with him for praise, worship, devotional journaling
, listening, you know, prayingover the schedule for the day
(09:49):
and prayer Saint all of that isincorporated in my morning time
with the Lord.
I missed it.
Just think the trigger for menot writing was because I wasn't
(10:12):
doing a daily spiritualdiscipline Quiet time, quiet
time Isn't that interesting.
Quiet time is a routine thathelps direct my day, inspiring
me to be all God's call me to be, to hang out with him.
As a believer, practicingspiritual disciplines are
(10:36):
important.
It's the meat that makes thesauce taste sweet.
Ah.
But here's my question to you,saints what do you do that will
trigger you that you are offtrack or have stopped doing what
you love to do in the Lord?
(10:57):
Psalms 119 says how can a youngman keep his way pure?
By guarding it, according toyour word.
Proverbs 4.23 says above allelse, guard your heart, for
(11:21):
everything you do flows from it.
Philippians 4.67 says Do not beanxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer andsupplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made knownto God, and the peace of God,
(11:45):
which surpasses allunderstanding, will guard your
heart and your minds in ChristJesus.
Romans 10.17 says so.
Faith comes from hearing, andhearing through a word of Christ
(12:05):
.
Just from these verses, andthere's more.
Once you search the scriptures,you will find that the thing
that will help you stay on trackand trigger you when you have
stopped doing.
What you love to do is theBible.
(12:27):
Now, saints, what spiritualdiscipline must you do daily to
keep you in God's word?
Jeremiah 29.13 says you willseek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart.
Psalm 73.28 says but for me itis good to be near God.
(12:54):
I have made the Lord, god myrefuge.
That I may tell of all yourworks.
Psalms 119.105 says your wordis a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.
Colossians 3.16 says Let theword of Christ dwell in you,
(13:17):
richly teaching and admonishingone another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns andspiritual songs with
thankfulness in your heart toGod.
It's clear the spiritualdiscipline of being in God's
presence.
(13:37):
For me, that's quiet time inthe morning where I feast on his
word and listen for his voice.
What about you?
What spiritual discipline doyou practice regularly?
Is dwelling on the word of Goda part of it?
Also?
It's time to guard our heartsby simply being intentional
(14:04):
about spending time with Jesus.
The more words you get in you,the more the Holy Spirit has to
work with and the less likelyyou will stray too far from
God's word in his presence.
Remember Christ is in yourheart, for where your treasure
(14:26):
is, there will be your heartalso.
Now, if Christ is in our heartand our treasure can be found in
our heart, wouldn't that standto reason that the word of God
should be in your heart?
Isn't the Bible about Christ,our Savior?
(14:46):
So, saints, here's anopportunity for growth.
Take your daily quiet time moreseriously.
If you stopped, start again.
If you haven't stopped butdon't find it exciting anymore,
then take that time to examineyourself.
Take your Bible, pen andjournal to your quiet coffee
(15:09):
place.
Let the Lord know you've cometo hang out with Him and there
is something you really, reallywant His guidance on.
Talk to Him about everythingyou love doing that God's called
you to do.
Be a gift, talent or skill?
He's given you what you enjoyto your heart, inspiration, to
(15:33):
your life that you stopped doingor seem to have lost a spark
for.
Then begin journaling, writingdown whatever comes to your mind
about 15 minutes.
If a Bible verse comes up, thenlook it up.
Think of this time as setting upyour foundation, or you're
(15:59):
examining yourself, because onceyou have this foundation of
having your Bible, pen, journaland a quiet place where you're
asking the Lord questions andyou're seeking His face.
That's your foundation Thrust,how that expands and grows.
(16:22):
Well, that's between you andGod.
Remember, when you spend timewith the Lord, he will spend
time with you.
Saves, he wants to commune withyou.
You are the opportunity for Godto bring about an increase not
just in your life, but in othersas well.
(16:43):
So be that opportunity byhiding His Word in your heart so
you might not sin against Him.
Let's pray.
Let's pray at night.
Blessed are you, o Lord.
Teach us your statues Spark ineven greater desire to spend
(17:06):
time with you and in your Word.
Help us to guard our heartaccording to your Word as we
seek you with our whole heart.
Let us not wander from yourcommandments, but store up your
Word in our hearts so we mightnot sin against you.
We want our delight to be inyour statues so we will not
(17:31):
forget your Word.
We want to commune with you.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amenand Amen.
Thanks for listening.
(17:51):
This helps in moving it forwardto being heard by other
believers.
Also, if you haven't done so,get your free twice a month
newsletter to keep up with newreleases of the podcast and
(18:12):
monthly opportunities on how tolive intentionally and daily in
Christ, and much more.
All of us.
And more can be found,including my contact information
on hanging out withJesusPodcastcom or the show
notes.
So until we meet again on theairway, intentionally and daily
(18:41):
hang out with Jesus, shalom.
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