It is so funny how mundane moments in life can bring about the greatest reminders about life lessons.

Recently I found out I need to wear glasses, and it definitely takes some getting used to.

One of the things that I had to invest in was lens wipes.

I have adopted a nightly routine of cleaning at least one pair of my glasses so they will be clear in the morning for me to wear again.

However, sometimes you get tired and or lazy at night and don’t feel like being so responsible.

But then it occurred to me, if I am lazy tonight, I deny myself the clarity I need to see tomorrow.

It is easy to blame others for a lack of clarity and even blame God but, there are some things that I know I can do.

For instance, when it comes to relationships, I can ask for what I need.

Then whatever happens after that, I have done my part.

But what I can’t do is get mad at someone when I am denying myself clarity by not having a conversation with them.

Once I wipe away the barrier of denial, I feel refreshed and things begin to come into focus as they should.

I hate to burst your bubble coffee lovers, but this post is not an ode to caffeine.

You see, my dad was a musician, a music teacher at his own school, and a minister of music at his church for many years.

One of his many sayings that he told his students and wrote on their music often was no coffee breaks.

He wanted them to remember that breaks were necessary if there was a rest symbol in the music, but you weren’t meant to linger and take long pauses while playing a song.

That saying always made me laugh.

Although coffee breaks mess up songs, and I don’t like coffee, in life you need a coffee break sometimes.

You need that moment of stillness to steady yourself when life has knocked the wind out of your lungs.

It is important to pause and recalibrate to figure out what you want your next chapter to look like.

In a world that thrives on busyness and rushing, it is truly an act of resistance to stop and catch your breath.

So, if you are feeling lost, don’t be ashamed and don’t be afraid to take a coffee break.

As you go through life, there are so many things you may need to heal from.

Personally, I have been on a healing journey for the past 21 months as of this post.

My father passed away October 9, 2024.

There are days when I feel like I am doing great.

Then there are days when I feel like a little girl just craving her father’s embrace.

Here’s what I have learned.

Healing is in no way a linear process.

There are hills and valleys.

There is no manual for loss.

Sure, there are experts who provide somewhat of a healing balm for your aching soul.

But everybody has to walk their individual path of grief and decide- with help, the best way to move through it.

I believe that healing is on the horizon for me.

How can I tell you ask?

I can laugh about memories more than crying about them.

I welcome hearing songs from his favorite artists because it feels like a hug from him.

I have been able to help other people in their grief.

I write letters and tell my dad what is going on as if we are just catching up.

I am slowly but surely learning to take care of his kid (aka me LOL).

I am sure there are more ways but those will have to do for now.

One more thing though.

If you are looking for the end of the journey, stop.

The key is to just keep living one day at a time.

Relationships are so interesting.

As a teen, I had no idea about friendship styles, communication styles, attachment styles, or love languages.

However, as an adult, I realize that paying attention to these ways of explaining how we relate to each other really do matter.

For instance, when it comes to friendship, some people can be more casual or surface level and engage with everybody, while others are serious and go deeper with select individuals.

Then when it comes to communication, some people say things firmly but fairly, some people say one thing but mean another, some people say it all, while others just fade into the background completely.

As far as attachment, some people say that is learned, but it can be unlearned and changed.

For example, some people are secure, some are clingy, while other people tend to keep to themselves out of fear, and others get close and then back away.

Last but not least love languages give us insight into how people best receive love.

Some people prefer encouraging words, while others love hugs, appreciate when you run an errand, or simply spend time with them.

This is in no way a comprehensive summary of all of these theories, but these are just some of the things that I have learned.

I would like to caution you about labeling yourself and feeling as if these things are set in stone.

There is always room for evolution as long as we breathe.

Nevertheless, I personally feel that there is merit to these schools of thought.

For instance, I might have a loved one that I am trying to engage with more than they prefer or I might be loving them in a way they can’t receive it.

This gives me insight into how they are wired as a person, then I have context for their behavior, and can determine how to proceed in that relationship.

In conclusion, with the safe people that you value in your life, it is helpful to take these things into consideration.

Last week I had to keep it real with the young folks.

This week, I have to keep it real with the grown folks.

If you live long enough, life will knock you down to your knees.

But you can’t stay there forever.

There are some days when you feel numb.

Praise and worship music always seems to thaw me out.

I can’t stay bitter or anxious.

I start dancing or clapping or singing.

Praise and worship are essential on a daily, sometimes hourly basis.

I need those songs to remind me of who God is to me and that I belong to Him.

Because I belong to Him, I don’t have to let my feelings keep me down.

I can do something that may seem radical like thank him and praise him anyhow for another day.

I am learning that praise is more than what it looks like.

Praise is a heart posture.

Praise is a lifestyle.

You have to be intentional about making time to sing to God and in the process, you manage to keep your heart soft during the toughest of seasons.

There is something about singing a song to God that just resets your nervous system, stills your being, and makes you feel safe.

No matter how you felt before the song played, you feel a little bit lighter after it stops.

That’s the power of praising God.

I love how naive young people are.

There is something beautiful about the innocence they get to live with.

As a 30-something I have been through a lot in a short period of time.

Over a 3rd of my life was spent worrying about various loved ones or taking care of them.

Losing some of the people that I have cherished has taught me alot about the next generation.

What a privilege to not have to take care of anyone.

What a blessing to still have your parents.

I entitled this post I don’t want to break your heart because truthfully, I don’t want to break the hearts of the next generation.

But someone has to break them out of the fairy tale world and into reality.

The funny part is, the more you try to explain loss and aging to them, the more it feels as though you are speaking Greek.

Yet and still more young people need to know the ways in which life breaks your heart.

I think it is worse when you don’t have any experience about these things and then you get blindsided.

Sometimes you have to take care of someone you love for close to a decade.

Sometimes you experience hysterical laughter and tears of frustration in the same day.

Sometimes you feel alone in a room full of family.

Sometimes going outside or going on vacation won’t solve the problems you have.

Sometimes the people you thought would support you in the difficult seasons go radio silent.

Sometimes you feel like you have to start your life over from scratch.

Sometimes you won’t have a clue what to do.

Sometimes, or should I say most times, life is not cut and dry.

You see, when you have never endured anything heartbreaking, it is easy to say what you think someone should do.

But when you go through things, your eyes are forever opened to the nuances of life.

I wish that all of our older relatives could live forever and that no one else would have to experience the gut-wrenching pain of loss.

However, that just isn’t possible.

All I can say is, young people, cherish the ones you love while you can.

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Thank you in advance for your support!

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As a freedom coach, speaker, podcaster, author, and women's Bible study teacher, Violet is dedicated to equipping individuals to live in the freedom of who Christ designed them to be. Actively involved in her church, she brings her heartfelt passion and transformative insights to help others experience breakthrough and walk boldly in their God-given purpose.

Catch up with Violet Coots at www.violetcoots.com

Click here to listen to the full episode!

A certified Christian coach, author, blogger, & musician, her journey
began with burnout from performance-based living & a
longing for deeper connection with God.

A turning point came in 2019. Through the power of
forgiveness, Anne experienced the release & healing
from past wounds to knowing a new kind of love, God’s
unconditional love. That breakthrough inspired her to
launch "One Day at a Time," a blog sharing her faith
journey, creative reflections, & original music.

In 2023, God called Anne to leave a 50-year accounting
career to guide others through life transitions of living
distracted to living with Godfidence to find the treasure
of God’s peace. Her first book of inspirational poetry,
Where Faith Takes Flight, reflects her own healing
journey. Her latest devotional book, The Red-Letter Code:
A 31-Day Journey: Unlocking the Blueprint to Your Identity
in Christ, invites readers to release old labels & embrace
their true identity in Christ, one red-letter name at a time.

Today, Anne helps Christian men & women who feel
stuck & spiritually defeated to living each day with
peace, purpose, & renewed confidence through her
faith-based coaching that empowers and transforms.
Through her signature 5F framework, she leads others on
a path from fear to freedom, empowering them to walk
boldly & intimately with God, one surrendered day at a
time.

Catch up with Anne Wooten at www.annewooten.com for more info!

Click here to watch the full episode!

Catch up with Coach Norman Murray by visiting his website buildingbridges520.com

Click here to tune in to today’s episode!

Feel free to leave a review/rating/comment on Spotify and let us know what you thought about today's episode!

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5 Declarations of Praise

I am learning that praise& worship is more than just music.

Praising God, our creator, is a lifestyle that we must pursue.

Praising God involves lifting up the name of God.

We don't praise God to remind Him of who He is.

We must praise God daily to help us remember who God is to us.

Here are five scriptures to meditate on to help you do just that.

Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!

-Psalms 150:2 (NLT)


Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—

-Psalms 103:2 (NIV)


My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!

-Psalms 108:1 (NLT)

I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.

-Psalms 34:1 (NLT)


Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.

-Psalms 100:4 (NLT)

Hey yall!

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a great holiday season.

Please be sure to tune into this enlightening episode of the

Healed, Whole, & Called Podcast with Host Wendy Melrose.

We had a great conversation.

The link to this episode will be on all of my socials.

You can also find the episode on my Podcasts I Have Appeared on Playlist on Youtube. Thanks so much for the support!

Be sure to click here to watch the full episode!

Click here to tune in!

There are millions of opinions on this topic.

Nonetheless, when it comes to making content, if you force the content, it just won’t work.

Trying to produce content you don’t feel confident about will always be an epic fail.

If you don’t have a lot to say on a particular topic, keep brainstorming until you find something that you are passionate about.

Planning content in advance gives you the flexibility to tweak a topic or pivot altogether when you need to.

Finally, don’t be afraid to re-purpose old content if you must.

There is no shame in doing that on a week when you just can’t come up with anything fresh.

P.S.: Check out the season finale episode of the podcast!

Hey yall!

On today's episode, I am tackling grief head on.

I recorded this episode 5 months after losing my father.

Two weeks from now, October 9, 2025, will mark a year since he has passed.

It has been a wild journey.

I hope something I said in this episode was helpful if you are on the same path or know someone else who is.

You can tune into this episode by clicking here!

Thanks for the support.

FYI: This will be my last blog post for 2025.

I hope that everybody has an amazing holiday season!

I will check back in with you all in the new year and keep you posted on what you can expect for 2026.

In the meantime, you can catch up with me on Instagram @beechannel27

Thanks so much for your support this year!

God bless you all.

So today, I have a question for yall.

Do you know your great-grandparents, great relatives, or 2nd/3rd cousins?

I asked because it’s so intriguing to me how we call the older generations in our families great or grand.

Personally, I never knew my great-grandparents, but there were a few great aunts and uncles that I knew briefly.

I also have the privilege of knowing plenty of 2nd and 3rd cousins.

Frankly, I sometimes feel envious of people who knew a lot of their great relatives or lived in a multi-generational home.

But I feel so privileged to have known three of my four grandparents.

There are so many people who did not even get to know them.

The history and the heritage are so rich when you look back at the older generations.

You always learn something new.

I often imagine what it would have been like to talk to some of those relatives.

I muse about what features and quirks they passed down to me in our bloodline.

I wonder about what life was like for them.

I thank God for people in my family who take the time to enlighten me.

My third cousin does a great job of gathering and sharing information about people in our family.

To keep up with all of the things that she does is a massive mental undertaking.

Nevertheless, it is worthwhile and I’m glad that someone is doing it.

Family history really does matter.

Today’s post is a gentle reminder about relationships.

For your own peace: Your flesh will fight you every step of the way but, Be radical about showing love anyway.

It is more comfortable to be silent and hold a grudge but, Be radical about showing forgiveness.

It is easier to complain and compare but, Be radical about celebrating others.

Otherwise, you get too full of yourself, and it is a recipe for disaster.

Jesus showed love when people didn’t deserve it.

He forgave those who mistreated Him.

He was excited about life.

If this was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for us.

P.S.: Check out this week’s podcast with fellow Substacker, Stella Chibuike-Ezike

As long as we have breath, we have an opportunity to grow.

Personal development is essential to our evolution in life.

Tune in to this insightful conversation I had with Stella Chibuike-Ezike about personal development and parenting.

You can tune into this episode by clicking here!

Here is a little bit of info about Stella: ‪@stellacezike‬​

Stella Chibuike-Ezike is a Learning and Development Enthusiast, Educator, Writer, and Author whose work sits at the powerful intersection of parenting, leadership, and personal development.

Her journey into conscious parenting is fueled by her deep belief in the power of learning beyond the classroom, recognizing that education extends far beyond traditional academic settings.

As a passionate advocate for intentional living and lifelong learning, Stella helps parents and leaders discover their transformative potential in shaping the next generation.

She firmly believes that parents are the most effective teachers in a child's life—their influence is unmatched, creating both a profound responsibility and privilege that should be embraced wholeheartedly.

Through her engaging content on Substack and YouTube, Stella explores the delicate balance of personal ambition and family life.

Drawing from her journey as a mother and educator, she brings a unique perspective to personal growth and child development.

Her work resonates deeply with those navigating life's demands while pursuing meaningful growth and fulfilment, emphasizing that nurturing thriving children begins with nurturing ourselves.

When she's not writing or creating content, Stella enjoys spending quality time with her family and discovering new adventures together.

She's actively demonstrating these principles in her own life, constantly exploring new ways to learn, grow, and contribute to her community.

Stella is currently working on expanding her impact through strategic content creation and upcoming projects that will further support parents and leaders in their journey toward intentional, fulfilling lives.

Connect with Stella on Substack

https://stellachibuikeezike.substack.com

Connect with Stella on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@stellacezike

Hey yall!

Let me ask you a question.

Are you in a hurry?

Tune in to this episode by clicking here and see if you recognize yourself at all in my story.

Thanks in advance for the support.

On this faith journey with God, it can be way too easy to fall into the trap of legalism.

Before you know it, you start moving through life with robotic precision.

Contrary to popular belief, God does not want us to have a stale, robotic, zombie-like life with Him.

He wants us to have a fresh, spontaneous, vibrant existence.

He knows that we mess up and every day won’t be perfect.

God isn’t sitting around in heaven expecting us to read huge chunks of the bible every day.

He is not sitting up there counting how many times you forget to pray.

He doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs.

(1st Corinthians 13:5)

Who among us would survive that anyhow? Can you imagine?

(Psalms 130:3)

I am so glad that our heavenly father showers us with abundant grace.

(John 1:16)

Of course, it delights God when we pray, read His word, and make good decisions.

However, when we mess up, God is always waiting and willing to welcome us with open arms when we ask for His forgiveness.

To avoid falling into legalism, we must remember that the Lord does not want us to do anything out of obligation.

God wants us to serve Him, worship Him, and spend quality time with Him because we love Him.

We should do those things because we want to please Him, not to check a spiritual chore off of our to-do-list.

Friends, if you have found yourself in a state of overwhelm lately in your relationship with God, let this post be a reminder to slow down and take a deep breath.

God understands and He is for you.