There were many times in my life where I felt tired and didn't think I could move any further. There were times when things looked dark and gloomy, and I lost focus and sight of things. I am sure someone can relate to what I am talking about. When I went through my phases, I had to continue to speak life into my situation. I find that staying positive through any situation will not only help transform your thinking, but it brings hope to your situation.

I was talking with a friend just today about life's challenges. He shared with me that his mortgage was going into foreclosure this month and he was able to get into the NACA program and got his home refinanced at a lower interest rate. The payments were reduced to half the amount he was paying and that was such a blessing...While he was going through this tough time, he never stop believing. We all know what it is like when things look bad, we tend to look at the situation and focus less on the outcome because we are not sure what the resutls will be. Well, after losing his job and drawing unemployment that wasn't enough to pay anything, he never lost sight of his dream. He decided to join the Air Force Reserves.

I just want to share that no matter what things look like, at times we have to make some adjustments and not lose sight of where we are headed. Sometimes situations occur to change our direction. So if you are someone whose going through something in your life right now, just remember you just have to find your strength and hold on to it...Continue to be positive and know where your strength comes from... If you are ever in need to talk don't hesitate to email me @ ms.windley@yahoo.com....

You can also visit my website @ www.atruereflection.org

Twanja Windley is the Author of Live Your Dream, While Being Led by the Word coming soon

Remember this year our lives may change, but only great things lies ahead... Don't be afraid of what's ahead because it will only get better...

Over the weekend, I was wondering what will I blog about and I had nothing. I was conversing with my best friend about management and that is when it hit me. My pastor once shared with us that Management is the key to life. A year ago, I wondered if I knew I would become a writer would I have majored in Business? I love Business and I enjoyed working in Management, but because of a few injuries I had to resign from my position. After I thought about it for a while, that doesn't mean that my skills won't be put to use, I actually feel like I'm about to take my management skills to the next level.

In everything that I do, I use management as a major tool. I manage my money, I manage my home, I manage my relationship, I manage my time. Everything that I do in life, management plays a huge role. When I published my first book Led by the Word, someone managed my royalties, and I felt like I was in the dark and I needed to keep track of everything. So I decided to learn all that I could and manage things for myself.  I realized if I could manage what is given to me, more will come in the future. The key to your happiness is management... Are you managing things in your career?

Twanja Windley, author of Live Your Dream, While Being Led by the Word... www.atruereflection.org

Just the other day, I was talking with an old high school friend who was getting ready for the Grand Opening of her new business. I was so happy for her new beginning. It's exciting to see other peoples dreams come true. When you have a goal and working towards something, just knowing that someone else made it brings great joy & hope. So as we talked she shared that there were times when she was almost depressed because things were at a stand still. When she shared that, immediately I began to feel something; a thought came to mind, and my mind began to ponder. I realized that at times we plan and prepare for our journey to success, but we have no idea when things are going to manifest. Everything that we do is a process. We tell ourselves no matter what, I am going to do this. Some times we forget that everyday won't be sunny; the storm will come. I want to share with you today that the storm comes to water the seeds. Nothing grows without water & sun light. So when your dreams seem to be dry, just remind yourself that the storm comes to produce the harvest.

Without the rain, can the crops grow? I just want to let you know that whatever we go through we need it to get to the next level. So when things becomes tiring hold on because it's just a part of the process. God will never fail us & we have what it takes to get to the next level. We also have each other. I believe in YOU... Go after your dreams and then help someone make their dreams come true.

Twanja Windley author of Live Your Dream, While Being Led by the Word. www.atruereflection.org 

Over the weekend, we had a snow storm and I was caught out driving in that nasty weather. On my way to my sisters, I was driving on I-26 and I couldn't see anything. I was praying the entire way, "Lord Keep Me Safe". I was on the interstate driving no more than 30 MPH. The snow was coming down so hard and it was so dark, nothing seem clear. At any moment I was so ready to give up. I was so close to home, but it seem like it was taking forever. There were moments when I looked to the highway to use  the reflectors to make sure I stayed in my lane. Then finally I focused my eyes on the car ahead of me and use its light as a guide to keep me in my lane.

It seemed like a long and miserable journey, but in the mist of it all I managed to find a word just for you. You see, often in life we find ourselves wanting to give up when things become difficult. This was my very first time ever driving out while snowing. Like most people, any sight of bad weather, I find myself in the house, snuggled up under a warm blanket, and lying on my couch. Sometimes I like to play it safe. This experience was a little different for me. On our journey, we may find ourselves in a position where we don't know how we are going to get through. Just as I used the light from the car ahead of me to stay focus; you should focus your eyes on your destiny. Keep your eyes straight ahead and continue to move forward until you reach your desired goals. There will be storms that will come to distract you, but hold on and continue to press forward because you will soon arrive at your location. Keep the Faith & Stay Focused. The storm will come but don't faint continue to look ahead.

Twanja Windley (Author of Live Your Dream, While Being Led by the Word) www.atruereflection.org

Happy Monday,

I definitely looked forward for this moment to talk with you. I must admit that last week was definitely surreal. Have you ever thought, maybe the storm comes to protect you from something, or maybe the storm may keep some things from happening until God is ready for things to be released, perhaps the storm is there to test your faith & to give you strength. We must understand that we learn as we go.

Last week was quite interesting for me, I realized that as long as I continued to seek, things will continue to manifest; Even if the storm comes to deter me from my destiny, I realized I still have to look forward. Do you recall people saying, "I'm so glad, trouble don't last always." Well, I am so glad that the storm doesn't last always. There will be brighter days ahead of us. Sometimes we may not be able to see it because our eyes are flooded from tears, but the moment you dry your eyes, the storm will began to clear up. So while you are trying to weather your storm, keep your eyes on what's in front of you and hold on to your dreams. I bet this week is going to be a week that you will never forget. We are so close to reaching our destiny so we have to stick together. There is nothing like having a friend to go through this time of transition with you. I know great things are ahead of us because there are great things inside of us that are being pushed out. (Promotions, Businesses, Best Selling Authors, Doctors, Entreprenuers)-no matter what keep pressing forward because it will happen if you keep believing... Remember- I tell you this all the time, Diligence is when you keep doing the little things until something big happens...Keep Living Your Dream

Twanja Windley-author of Live Your Dream, While Being Led by the Word.(Soon to be a Best Seller because I believe in my dream) www.atruereflection.org

Today we have something to celebrate. We have just completed the first month of this new year. I have one question for you, "Are you sticking to Your plans"?

I don't know about everyone else, but I have faced some challenging times in the month of January. It was God's mercy, grace, and favor that has kept me this far. I told you this year we would face our obstacles together. We are a family and we want to make sure that we are all covered and that we help one another reach those goals that we all set for this year. Inspite of the bumps in the road, we have to continue the path that was set for us.

I must admit things won't always go according to the plan that we set for ourselves, but if we trust in God and stay focus His plan for our lives will be manifested. Have you ever wanted something to happen in your life so bad and became overwhelmed with frustration? I know I"m not the only one. There were times where I kept pushing so hard because I wanted to see change or results instantaneously and in fact, I was overlooking the thing that God was trying to show me. So this year as we work towards our dream, let's be wise and alert so that we won't miss out on life's lessons and principles that will definitely help us when we reach that level that we are so eagerly seeking. As we continue this journey, we must keep the faith...

Twanja Windley- Author of Live Your Dream, While Being Led by the Word & Another Level- How Changing Your Mindset Will Help To Change Your Circumstances... In Faith, I am believing that they will both be Best Sellers... Coming soon.

Today, I want to talk to you about having faith and believing in yourself while you are preparing to reach your destiny. In the book of Hebrews the 11th Chapter it says, Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. On yesterday, my pastor Apostle Ron Carpenter Jr, shared something very powerful with us. He shared something that made our minds start to think. He said, Faith without action that corresponds to what you are believing for is dead. I spent the rest of that morning in amazement. It's wonderful to understand how things ties together. You can believe all day long, but you have to do the work in order for things to begin happening. Do you recall me saying that diligence is when you keep doing the little things until something big happens? This is when you have faith in what you believe in and you keep at it until something changes. This year we are going to diligently seek whatever it is we are aiming to achieve & we are going to get there together.

I must admit, I am excited for this new beginning. I know it's just the first month in the year and everyone set goals and some never follow through with them. Well, I feel differently about this year because I have a team of hungry individuals just like myself who wants more and is motivated to go and get it. So let's spend this year reaching our goals together. It's great going through life with a wonderful friend and I am glad that I have you.

Twanja Windley soon to be NY Bestselling Author (Never give up on your dream)

www.atruereflection.org

There will come a time when opportunities will be presented to you and you've got to be in position to take advantage of them. ~Sam Walton~

This quote says a lot. My pastor Apostle Ron Carpenter always shared with us that when we do things, we should do it with the intentions or mindset that it will be prosperous. I guess the old adage was right, "when an opportunity presents itself, you better be ready for it". What good would it be, if you waited for something big to happen in your career and when it happened you were not in position to accept it? So I say to you, whatever it is, in this season that you are asking for or waiting to happen, ask or wait with the intentions of it happening & know what it takes to maintain it. Now ask yourself, do you have things in order? If my business blows up today, will I have enough man power or resources to make it run productively? If someone gave me a large sum of money, do I know what to do with it? If someone wants to bless my future am I prepared to go to that next level? Have you done the work, are you prepared, or do you still have work to do?

Let's move forward together knowing that this year is going to be prosperous because we've done all the work. Now when the blessing start flowing through we know where to position ourselves...

Twanja Windley-Author of Live Your Dream. While Being Led by the Word coming soon

www.atruereflection.org

Over the weekend, I watched an old episode of Half & Half... It was the episode when Adam was feeling like the weakest link to their foursome. Well, Spencer went over to cheer up Adam and to give him a lecture about going after the things he want in his life. He said, when writing goals: start small, be specific, and makes some sacrifices. I thought this was a great message and I am sure we all knew this information, but it feels great to do a recap.

How many of us are implementing all 3 of the things listed above? Sometimes we write our goals, but are we really being specific? Do you take time and do the research to see what it takes to obtain the things that you are asking for? Or even better, do you know what it takes to maintain it?  If all I dreamt about was getting married- I would first have to find a spouse and then get married; is that all I need to do and the marriage will work on it's on? Maybe I should find out what it takes to maintain the marriage. When setting your goals be specific in the things that you ask for and take the time to find out what you really want and most importantly what you don't want.

I am sure at one point or another, we all have made sacrifices to get something that we wanted. In college, we learned about opportunity cost- which means to give up something to get something else. Instead of going to work and making money after graduating high school, I made the sacrifice of going to college so that I would have a better chance of making more money in my life time, to learn more skills, and to change my way of thinking.  There are some people who put there dreams on hold because they have children early, or decide on getting married at an early age. I just want to remind you that you do have to give up something to get something else, if your dream is to become an Entrepreneur, CEO of an organization, A Writer, etc don't go around thinking it's to late. You may be that someone who has put their dreams on hold to do other things. I am here to share with you, it's never to late to live your dream. Just keep in mind, it's not how you start, it's how you finish.... Remember to set goals and work hard towards it.

I am Twanja Windley- Author of Live Your Dream, While being Led by the Word coming soon 2010...You can visit my website at www.atruereflection.org

Another year has passed and I am thankful. Were you along with many others at the last minute preparing for this new year to come in? I must admit, I prepared all year by sowing seeds into what I think is going to be a life changing experience. I did things a little different and I am definitely expecting different results. As I was growing up, my sister and I would always write down our goals for the new year. Now that I am older, I decided to take it to a new level. I needed to see things a bit clearer- I started making things more descriptive and clarifying why I wanted to see things happen in my life.

I was reading a daily devotion a few days ago and I found this very intriguing: the biblical numerological term for the number 9 means to bring judgement, to bring to an end, or to bring to conclusion... So now I ask what old ways or habits are you bringing to an end? Ask yourself what can I bring to conclusion in my life that is keeping me from my destiny? Remember, in order for something to begin something has to end. What are you willing to let go of? A new year doesn't just bring new beginnings, it creates a new you. So join me this year as I begin to let go of my old ways and allow new things to flow into my life. If something isn't working for you then try something new, the key is to never give up. 2010 is here and we are going to make changes.... Its our time, here is to You & Me.

Twanja Windley- www.atruereflection.org

Distraction menas something that distracts, especially an amusement:diversion. Also could be mental or emotional confusion or disturbance. Have you ever used someone or something to distract you from pain, guilt, or depression? Have you ever tried to hide from yourself? Have you ever just wanted more and didn't know how or where to begin? Join me this year as I help others look deep within and become a better YOU. Check out my new book, Another Level- How changing your mindset helps to change your circumstances. Coming 2010.