RING

The alarm goes off. I roll over to turn it off.

Then it happens.

Even before I am fully awake, the to-do list of the day comes flooding through my mind.

Trying to remember what time I have to pick up which kid and what activity I have to drop him or her off at.

Going through my mental calendar to see what meetings I have for the day.

Realizing it’s my day to cook dinner and trying to remember if I have all the ingredients that I need.

I can’t be the only one.

But lately, I’ve been trying to approach the day differently. As the fog of sleep lifts, and before the first thought of the day tries to creep in, I focus my mind on God. Before I sit up, I search for the first song that comes to mind that praises Him. And instead of allowing the to-do list to stress me out and cause me panic, I allow the peace of morning to envelop me.

Psalm 90:14 says, “Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”

What could change about your morning routine by making this one change?

I know that I feel more rushed in the morning when the weight of the list is the first thing on my mind. Taking the time to consecrate my first thoughts to God has made all the difference. Seeking Him first allows me to begin the day not with everything I have to do, but with the One who will sustain me as I do it.

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Remember, friend, seeking God first doesn’t change what is waiting for you during the day. It changes how you meet what is waiting for you. And maybe that is what it means to be satisfied by His love each morning. I don’t have to wake up searching for enough strength, enough time, enough patience, or enough of myself to make it through the day.

I can wake up and seek Him first.

So, tomorrow morning, the alarm will ring again.

And eventually, the list will try to intrude on your first moments.

But it doesn’t have to.

Before you fully open your eyes, before you mentally run through everything waiting for you, before your feet hit the floor, before you check your phone—seek Him.

Give God the first thought.

And then get up and face the day with Him.

Until next time, your friend,

Janeil 🌱

Keep Moving From the Middle 🌱

If you’re ready to keep moving from where you are toward what God is calling you to build, start here:

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Subscribe now

How We Build Together🌱

There’s always a next step. Here’s how we keep taking them together.

Step One: Mondays & Thursdays at 10:10 AM: Faith-filled articles about navigating the middle—the space between where you are and where you believe God is calling you to go—with lessons on faith, growth, and taking action.

The Next Step: Weekly — One practical action designed to help you stop simply thinking about what you want to change, create, or build and actually move.

The Build: Monthly — A guided reflection to look back at what God showed you, recognize your growth, celebrate what you accomplished, and decide what you’re building next.

Meet Janeil:

I’m Janeil Stephens—a writer, entrepreneur, creative, and single mom of four navigating what I call the middle: that space between where we are and where we believe God is calling us to go.

I’m passionate about faith, personal growth, organization, building better habits, and actually taking action on the things God places on our hearts. Here, I share what I’m learning as I build, begin again, make mistakes, grow, and keep moving forward.

My hope is simple: to encourage you to seek God, embrace where you are, and take the next step toward what you’re Called to Build.

Share Called to Build

Leave a comment

In my family, there are a lot of changes happening in this current phase of life.

My oldest is graduating from college.

My second is graduating from high school.

My son is going into middle school.

And, well, my two-year-old is just living her best life. 😂

At my son’s middle school orientation, they mentioned that this would be the first year that they would be receiving lockers, and they told us to buy combination locks. For me, hearing that brought such fond memories. It felt like just yesterday I was struggling with my first combination lock.

Well, in fact, it was today. 😂

I was trying to show my son how to unlock the lock, and I was struggling. For years, I had to use a lock, and after reading the instructions, I confirmed the direction was still the same. Go round to the right three times, round to the left once, and then land on the final number. Same instructions, and yet the lock wouldn’t open. It took a few tries, and then I finally got it open!

Click.

The sound had never been so satisfying.

Then I gave it to my son, showed him twice, and left him to explore.

A few hours later, he still hadn’t opened it. He was undoubtedly frustrated and couldn’t understand why I had gotten it open and he couldn’t.

I asked him to show me what he was doing.

Immediately, I noticed what was wrong.

Right numbers, wrong direction.

He was going left, right, and then left.

No matter how many times he put in the right numbers, that lock was never going to open.

How often do we do the same thing? We get something partially right, and when it doesn’t work out, we question why.

You have the right password, but the Caps Lock key is on.

You have the right key, but you’re trying to unlock the wrong door.

You work incredibly hard climbing a ladder only to realize it’s leaning against the wrong wall.

You arrive at church every Sunday but never ask Jesus into your life.

Being partially right doesn’t produce the right result.

We often assume that if we have most of the combination correct, the lock should open.

But locks don’t reward “almost.”

They require the right numbers in the right order and the right direction. Our lives are often the same. We can have good intentions, work hard, and even make many right decisions. But if we’re headed in the wrong direction—or trying to do things our own way instead of God’s—we shouldn’t be surprised when the door doesn’t open.

When Jesus began His ministry, He called His disciples to follow Him, promising to make them fishers of men (Matthew 4:18–20). And yet, for anyone who has read the Bible, there are tons of stories of the disciples getting things partially correct.

In Matthew 17:14–20, the disciples tried to cast a demon out of a boy but couldn’t; when they asked Jesus why, He pointed to their lack of faith.

In Matthew 14:22–33, Peter had enough faith to step out of the boat and walk toward Jesus on the water. But when he shifted his attention from Jesus to the wind and waves around him, he began to sink.

I’m not sharing these stories to make you feel bad, but to help you realize that even the people closest to Jesus didn’t always get the combination right. Or they had the combination, but they were moving in the wrong direction.

Sometimes they had the right intention but the wrong understanding.

Sometimes they took the right step but lost their focus.

Sometimes they simply got it wrong.

But they stayed near Jesus.

And that is our mandate as well.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT) reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus.

The key to unlocking God’s plan for our lives is keeping our eyes on Him.

We have to stay in His Word, spend time talking to Him, attend church, and join in community. These things keep our focus on Jesus, helping us recognize when we’ve entered the wrong combination or started moving in the wrong direction.

Because sometimes we will have the right numbers and still turn the wrong way.

Sometimes we will misunderstand the instructions.

Sometimes we will have to start the combination all over again.

But as long as we stay close enough to Jesus to hear His correction, He can redirect us.

Right numbers.
Right order.
Right direction.
Eyes on Jesus.

And eventually—

Click.

Until next time, your friend,

Janeil 🌱

Keep Moving From the Middle 🌱

If you’re ready to keep moving from where you are toward what God is calling you to build, start here:

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Subscribe now

How We Build Together🌱

There’s always a next step. Here’s how we keep taking them together.

Step One: Mondays & Thursdays at 10:10 AM: Faith-filled articles about navigating the middle—the space between where you are and where you believe God is calling you to go—with lessons on faith, growth, and taking action.

The Next Step: Weekly — One practical action designed to help you stop simply thinking about what you want to change, create, or build and actually move.

The Build: Monthly — A guided reflection to look back at what God showed you, recognize your growth, celebrate what you accomplished, and decide what you’re building next.

Meet Janeil:

I’m Janeil Stephens—a writer, entrepreneur, creative, and single mom of four navigating what I call the middle: that space between where we are and where we believe God is calling us to go.

I’m passionate about faith, personal growth, organization, building better habits, and actually taking action on the things God places on our hearts. Here, I share what I’m learning as I build, begin again, make mistakes, grow, and keep moving forward.

My hope is simple: to encourage you to seek God, embrace where you are, and take the next step toward what you’re Called to Build.

Share Called to Build

Leave a comment

I’ve had many friends ask me how I am able to stay so focused when it comes to so many aspects of my life.

My weight loss journey.

My daily calendar.

My reading.

My morning quiet time

It’s not that I’m “so focused”; I just believe in the fact that no matter what, I can always choose to begin again.

I’ve had so many day 1s when it comes to my weight loss journey. I can go 75, 100, 150 days in a row and then stop.

Sometimes it takes me a day to get back in the habit; most times it takes longer. However, I am not afraid of day 1.

I don’t wait for the start of a new month, and I definitely don’t wait for the start of a New Year. Most times I don’t even wait for the start of a new day. I start. NOW. Day 1 can be 10:10 on a Thursday morning.

As humans, we tend to overthink and push things off.

Or, let’s be honest, as Christians, it’s easy to say, “I’m in a season of waiting.” But have you ever realized how comfortable we can become in waiting? And yes, I said comfortable. Sometimes we’re waiting on God when, in fact, God is waiting on us to move. “Oh, God hasn’t told me what to do next”. Or has He told you, and you just don’t want to move? Is what He is telling you so uncomfortable that you would prefer to stand still and wait?

I know it may be uncomfortable to hear, but I’m guilty of it too. A few weeks ago, I felt God calling me to start writing about “Moving from the Middle.” I wrote it down—and then I kept praying.

God, how am I going to make money? How do I navigate this season? What am I supposed to do?

But God is patient. Another week went by, and He gently put it in my spirit again: Move from the middle.

Once again, I wrote it down. And once again, I kept seeking and praying for an answer.

Except the answer was there all along.

I don’t know what this next season of life looks like for me. But I do know this: God is telling me to use the ability He has given me to Move from the Middle and share what I’m learning—the tips, tools, lessons, and even the mistakes—with others here on Called to Build.

That’s my story. What’s yours?

Is there something you’ve been asking about? Praying about? Fasting about? Has God already given you the answer, yet you keep asking?

Maybe you don’t need another answer.

Maybe you need to move.

Start now. Not Monday. Not next month. Not January 1.

Today.

Move from the middle.

Your future self will thank you.

Until next time, your friend,

Janeil 🌱

Keep Moving From the Middle 🌱

If you’re ready to keep moving from where you are toward what God is calling you to build, start here:

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Subscribe now

How We Build Together🌱

There’s always a next step. Here’s how we keep taking them together.

Step One: Mondays & Thursdays at 10:10 AM: Faith-filled articles about navigating the middle—the space between where you are and where you believe God is calling you to go—with lessons on faith, growth, and taking action.

The Next Step: Weekly — One practical action designed to help you stop simply thinking about what you want to change, create, or build and actually move.

The Build: Monthly — A guided reflection to look back at what God showed you, recognize your growth, celebrate what you accomplished, and decide what you’re building next.

Meet Janeil:

I’m Janeil Stephens—a writer, entrepreneur, creative, and single mom of four navigating what I call the middle: that space between where we are and where we believe God is calling us to go.

I’m passionate about faith, personal growth, organization, building better habits, and actually taking action on the things God places on our hearts. Here, I share what I’m learning as I build, begin again, make mistakes, grow, and keep moving forward.

My hope is simple: to encourage you to seek God, embrace where you are, and take the next step toward what you’re Called to Build.

Share Called to Build

Leave a comment

We don’t always take the time to reflect on where we’ve been or create new goals for where we want to go.

Before we enter September, let’s take a moment to reflect on August.

There is a free download below to help you evaluate your month:

1. Look Back — Take time to recognize what this month taught you.

2. Let Go — Decide what doesn’t need to follow you.

3. Celebrate — Acknowledge what you built, even if it isn’t finished.

4. Look Forward — Choose what deserves your attention next.

Reflection is pivotal to growth.

It’s easy to simply go with the flow of life—moving from one day, week, and month to the next without stopping to recognize where we’ve been.

But intentional reflection allows us to notice what worked, what didn’t, how we’ve grown, and where we want to go next.

So today, carve out 30 minutes. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bed, give yourself time to reflect.

Before you rush into what’s next, take time to recognize what this month gave you. 🌱

Four Things To End Well

217KB ∙ PDF file

Download

A Time for Intentional Reflection

Download

Share

Leave a comment

Called to Build is for the person who knows there is more in them—more God is calling them to become, create, or build—but needs faith, courage, and practical action to move from where they are to where they’re called to go.

Here, I share faith-filled encouragement, lessons from my own journey, and practical tools to help you stop simply thinking about your next step and start taking it.

What you can look forward to:

Step One: Mondays & Thursdays at 10:10 AM: Faith-filled articles about navigating the middle—the space between where you are and where you believe God is calling you to go—with lessons on faith, growth, and taking action.

The Next Step: Weekly — One practical action designed to help you stop simply thinking about what you want to change, create, or build and actually move.

The Build: Monthly — A guided reflection to look back at what God showed you, recognize your growth, celebrate what you accomplished, and decide what you’re building next.

Subscribe now

A few favorite posts

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Meet Janeil:

I’m Janeil Stephens—a writer, entrepreneur, creative, and single mom of four navigating what I call the middle: that space between where we are and where we believe God is calling us to go.

I’m passionate about faith, personal growth, organization, building better habits, and actually taking action on the things God places on our hearts. Here, I share what I’m learning as I build, begin again, make mistakes, grow, and keep moving forward.

My hope is simple: to encourage you to seek God, embrace where you are, and take the next step toward what you’re Called to Build.

Your friend,

Janeil 🌱

Share Called to Build

Yes, I did!

I know I’m not the only one who has done it; there are parents out there who not only “inspect” their kids’ goodie bags for the “good candy” but proceed to eat it too. However, there was something unexpected in this particular goodie bag.

The mom put a W.W.J.D. bracelet in the bag!

If you're a millennial who was raised in church, you probably remember the W.W.J.D. movement. For those of you who aren’t as familiar, W.W.J.D. stands for “What Would Jesus Do?” What started as a youth leader’s desire to help her students remember the phrase spread worldwide (you can read here for more detailed information: W.W.J.D.). And I was definitely part of the trend. And when I say I was part of the trend, I purchased one in every color!

When I tell you I hopped on the W.W.J.D. train, I was not only on the train, but I was probably the conductor. I had every color to coordinate with every outfit so I could stay in fashion and show that I loved Jesus.

Uncovering this gem in this goodie bag took me back. But while I was going down memory lane, I remembered what the real purpose of this bracelet was intended for. It wasn’t supposed to be a fashion statement; it was intended to be a reminder. The goal was, in times of uncertainty, doubt, fear, or anger, to ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” in this situation.

In high school, it was supposed to remind me not to kiss the boy in my parents’ kitchen. It was supposed to remind me not to peep over the kid’s shoulder in front of me during the test that I didn’t study for. It was supposed to remind me not to skip math class.

However, as an adult for me, the reminder is deeper.

What would Jesus do in this moment of fear? Would he stop, or would he move forward? What does Jesus want me to do next? Do I apply for the job, or is God asking me to wait? Do I move, or do I stay still and trust Him?

Of course, the questions are different now, but the focus is still the same. “What Would Jesus Do” in my shoes? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ”

So what does it truly mean to imitate Christ?

There are so many examples, but a few that I have personally had to hold on to during this season of life are.

Have faith like Christ: Matthew 26:39
Be patient like Christ: 1 Peter 2:23
Have courage like Christ: John 18:4–5
Depend on God like Christ: John 5:19

God isn’t asking us to do the impossible. He is calling us to be the body of Christ and to represent Him in the world (see 1 Corinthians 12:27 and 2 Corinthians 5:20). No matter where we are or what we are doing, we have an opportunity to reflect Christ to the people around us.

Maybe that is why finding this little bracelet all these years later has meant so much more to me than it did when I was sixteen.

As a teenager, W.W.J.D. reminded me of what not to do.

Don’t skip class.
Don’t cheat on the test.
And, yes, don’t kiss the boy in my parents’ kitchen.

But as an adult, I’m realizing that following Christ isn’t only about what I shouldn’t do. It’s also about having the faith, patience, courage, and dependence on God to do what He is calling me to do.

To move when I’m afraid.
To trust when I don’t know what’s next.
To wait when He tells me to wait.
And to step forward when He tells me to go.

So yes, I stole the bracelet from my daughter’s goodie bag.

And this time, I think I’ll actually use it for what it was intended for: to ask:

What Would Jesus Do?

And then—

do that.

Until next time, friend,

Janeil

Share

Share Called to Build

Leave a comment

At the end of every chapter, Julia Cameron includes a weekly check-in. Instead of simply answering those questions privately, I wanted to create something a little different. These weekly recaps have become a space for me to reflect on what I’m learning, what God is revealing to me, and how this journey is changing me from the inside out.

As I enter the last week, I am becoming extremely reflective on what this overall journey has meant to me. Whether you are on this journey with me currently, in August 2026, or reading this months or years later. I hope that these reflections encourage you to pause, reflect on your own journey, and perhaps even answer the questions for yourself. If you’re walking through The Artist’s Way with me, I’d love to hear what this week has been teaching you too.

1. What I Learned

“We learn by going where we have to go.” I have been moving in some capacity for the majority of the year. I try to jog at least two to three times a week, get out on a walk, or do an exercise video. This week, Julia focused on being intentional with my movement; it allowed me to slow down during my moments of movement and take a look at the things around me. Overall, this journey has been more about slowing down to hear from God, recognize the signs, and then move accordingly.

2. What God Showed Me

During this week, I was reminded how patient God is; a few weeks ago He gave me the idea of making my Substack brand one that allows people to “Move From the Middle”. The idea kept coming back to me at different times, but I didn’t think anything of it until Saturday. God gently told me that the answer to my prayers was given to me weeks ago! Thankfully, God is patient; immediately I began to move. As I continue to walk on this journey of building, I am increasingly mindful that everything happens when it is supposed to; God is an on-time God. As I continue on this journey of building, I am increasingly mindful that everything happens when it is supposed to—God is an on-time God. But I am also learning that when He gives me direction, I have a responsibility to respond. Sometimes the answer isn’t to keep praying for another answer. Sometimes the answer is to move.

3. Artist Date Highlight

This week, for my artist date, I took a walk down memory lane. Of course it cost me nothing, but I gained everything! Looking back at old pictures reminded me of the girl I was and the woman that I want to be.

@janeilnatalyaToday I took a walk down memory lane. I had a date with the girl who shaped me into the woman I am today. 🥰 #iamjaneil #memories #walkingbyfaithandnotbysight🙌🏾🙏🏾☝🏾💪🏾 #LegacyWriter #Artistsway

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

4. Wins This Week

• -Recognizing and being thankful for God’s patience.

• -Making space to listen—and recognizing when it’s time to act.

• -Continuing to be intentional with my quiet time and seeing, once again, that it is always worth it.

5. Looking Ahead

I am sad that I am heading into the final week; in fact, it’s bittersweet. I start a lot of things, but to be this close to finishing something I committed to feels different. I’m already proud of myself!

Your friend,

Janeil

Share

Leave a comment

The gym memberships have been canceled.

The journals are sitting on shelves.

The goals are waiting for next January.

What begins with enthusiasm is rarely sustained by consistency. However, one thing I am learning on my journey is that motivation gets us started.

Consistency carries us farther than motivation ever could.

Once the first half of the year is over, most people skip past the rest of the year and say “I’ll just try again next year.”

What would happen if we simply stopped believing the lie that new beginnings only happen on January 1st?

What if we stopped looking towards the beginning of a New Year, or a new month?

What if we just started looking at NOW?

So many times we think it’s too late to begin. However, it is never too late.

Scripture reminds us, “Do not despise these small beginnings...” (Zechariah 4:10).

We often celebrate big milestones, but God rejoices to see the work begin.

Stop waiting for everything to align!

Stop waiting for January.

Stop waiting for Monday.

Stop waiting until life feels easier.

Stop waiting until you feel ready.

Just begin.

Solomon understood this long before we did.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest."

Waiting for perfect conditions has never produced a harvest.

Want to lose weight? Put down that taco and pick up a salad fork.

Want to get closer in your relationship with Christ? Download the Bible app and start with a three-day devotional.

Stop putting pressure on yourself, stop overthinking, and just move.

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It just has to be a beginning.

People say to me all the time. I wish I had your dedication.

But the truth is...

It isn’t dedication anymore.

It’s habit.

Habits don’t happen overnight.

They happen because yesterday I showed up.

And then I showed up again today.

Reading two pages a day became fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes became finishing one book. One book became another. Before I knew it, I had built a habit.

What started as I want to lose 20 pounds turned into a walk to the mailbox, then to the lake, then downloading a jogging app.

I’m not trying to make light of the decisions made; however, you have to start somewhere, and so often we are shooting for the 20 pounds that we forget that all we have to do is take a walk to the mailbox. Then the next day, walk a little bit further.

Looking at the overarching goal is a lot! I get it! Trust me.

But if you choose to take one step, that’s what matters.

I am 42 years old, and I’m building things I’ve never built before. I’m founding my own business. I’m writing a blog as well as two books. If I’m honest, there are days when it all feels overwhelming.

I could convince myself that I missed my opportunity. That I’m too old. That I should have started years ago.

But that kind of thinking doesn’t move me forward.

So I make the broker calls. I write the page. I do what I can today and trust God with tomorrow.

I’ve learned that progress isn’t made by carrying the whole journey at once. It’s made by faithfully taking the next step.

God has never asked me to carry the whole journey in one day. Sometimes, I can only be responsible for this minute and trust that He will help me with the next. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:34 that “today’s trouble is enough for today.” If today’s trouble is enough for today, then today’s obedience is enough for today too.

So don’t let the task ahead overwhelm you. Focus on what you can do right now.

Write down one thing you want to do and then do it!

You don’t have to change your entire life today.

You only have to take today’s step.

Tomorrow will have its own step.

And before long, you’ll look back and realize the life you wanted wasn’t built in one giant leap. It was built one faithful step at a time.

Don’t wait for the perfect time.

The perfect time isn’t January.

It isn’t Monday.

It isn’t when life slows down.

The perfect time is now.

Until next time, friend,

Janeil

Share

Leave a comment

Going to the movies by myself?

Absolutely not.

If I wanted to do something, someone else needed to come with me.

Looking back, I realize something.

I had spent decades taking care of everyone else...

but I had never learned how to enjoy spending time with me.

For those who have been following my Artist’s Way journey, you know that one of my weekly assignments is to take myself on an Artist Date. If you’re unfamiliar with The Artist’s Way, it is a structured 12-week journey of self-discovery that uses writing, reflection, and weekly exercises to help remove the barriers keeping us from creating the lives we’re meant to live. I’ve included a link below for anyone interested in learning more.

When I first began the workbook, I viewed it as an assignment. However, along the way, my perspective changed. It has become less about making sure I check the box and more about doing things that allow me to take time for me.

For those of you who don’t know me personally, I'm an only child, and with that in my older years I realized something surprising about myself. I rarely did anything alone. Going to the movies, eating at a restaurant, even grocery shopping felt like activities that should include someone else.

In 2025, I decided to stop dating and began the process of dating myself because so much of my life before that I was focusing on someone else. I married at 19 and had my first child shortly before my 21st birthday. My first marriage ended when I was 35. I remarried at 37, and that marriage ended when I was 39. Looking back, I realize that I had never truly made time to focus on myself. Doing things alone felt selfish—and caring for myself never seemed like a priority because there was always someone else to take care of. And to be honest…

I did not know who the lady in the mirror was, what she stood for and most importantly what she wanted.

Deciding to date myself made me feel uncomfortable, because all of a sudden, I had to do thing by myself, something I had never allowed myself to do. However, I took my self-imposed challenge very seriously and I found myself enjoying the process. I went to the movies by myself for the first time in my life, took myself out to lunch and spent time in the park all by myself. What once scared me, soon became a comfort to me.

Then at the beginning of 2026 I got back in a relationship, and my focus shifted from myself to being a good partner. However, when I started the Artist’s Way journey she said it was very important to spend time dating your “inner artist”. For me it was a welcome challenge because I had neglected doing for myself, once again. There was no longer the fear of doing things by myself, because I had conquered that in 2025. However, now the new challenge was figuring out how to intentionally spend time with myself.

At first the thought of thinking of new things every week became overwhelming. Keep in mind in 2025 my goal was just to do one thing by myself every month. And now I was faced with trying to come up with new things every week! Even though Julia Cameron, the author of Artist’s Way, said not to put too much pressure on it. I 100% added so much pressure and was determined to make my “self” dating life one that was EXCEPTIONAL!

However, as I approached week 2, I realized that my taking time for me, regardless of the activity was still time spent on ME! And in fact, that’s all she was asking me to do. So, my mindset shifted and the pressure was removed. My artist dates have been truly enjoyable pockets of time curated just for me, and they don’t break the bank.

Artist Date #1 — Color Me Mine (approximately $10)

Artist Date #2 — ChatGPT-Curated Scavenger Hunt (Free)

Artist Date #3 — Writing in Sugar Land Town Square and Visiting an Art Gallery (Free)

Artist Date #4 — Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Free—general admission is free on Thursdays)

Artist Date #5 — Watching Moana at the Movies (Free to me—my boo bought the ticket! LOL)

Artist Date #6 — Coloring at a Coffee Shop (approximately $20 for art supplies and coffee)

Artist Date #7 — Outdoor Art Walk (Free)

Artist Date #8 — Watching the Sunrise at the Beach (Free)

Artist Date #9 — BBQ Lunch (approximately $20)

Looking back over this list, I realized something surprising. None of these dates were extravagant. What made them meaningful wasn't the price tag—it was the intentionality.

Somewhere along the journey, I stopped viewing these outings as assignments.

They became acts of stewardship.

God entrusted me with one life.

Taking time to care for the person He created isn’t selfish.

It’s wisdom.

When was the last time you dated yourself?

When was the last time you carved out quiet time to enjoy your own company?

Life is busy enough, but taking time for yourself is important. Burn out is real, Mark 6:31, Jesus tells us to rest, he says “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”

It doesn’t have to be some big and grandiose thing; it just has to be intentional.

We schedule meetings.

We schedule doctor’s appointments.

We schedule our children’s activities.

We schedule vacations.

But how often do we schedule time to simply be with ourselves?

If you had told the version of me from a few years ago that I’d look forward to taking myself to lunch, watching a sunrise alone, or wandering through an art gallery with no agenda, I wouldn’t have believed you.

But somewhere along the way, I learned that being alone and being lonely are not the same thing.

This week, I hope you’ll put one date on your calendar.

Not with someone else.

With you.

Until next time friend,

Janeil

Share

Leave a comment

We were told that the consistency of the tortoise is what ensures that we cross the finish line. However, in today’s society we are constantly chasing instant gratification. We want to lose weight as quickly as possible, visit as many places as we can, and climb the corporate ladder yesterday instead of tomorrow.

The lessons of childhood are not reflected on for the importance that they should hold. We enter the rat race and don’t stop until we burn ourselves out.

The other day I was cooking and I almost dropped the pot of food because of how quickly I was moving. Why was I moving so fast? I didn't have anywhere to be. In fact, I had started cooking earlier than usual. No one was waiting on me. That's when it stopped me in my tracks. There have been so many times recently that I find myself in the midst of an activity and I find myself rushing.

I have to remind myself to be present.

Don't get me wrong. There are times when we have deadlines to meet or people waiting on us because we've mismanaged our time. Those moments happen. However, those times should be few and far between. It shouldn’t be our default. We are on this earth to be an example, Titus 2:7 reminds us, "And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity..." So, if we are running around this world, in a rush, like everyone else our lives are not reflecting how Christ has called us to live.

It is time that we choose to be present.

It’s time to live differently.

The next time you find yourself rushing—whether you’re washing dishes, folding laundry, answering emails, or feeding your child—pause for a moment. Ask yourself, Why am I in such a hurry?

You may discover there isn’t a deadline at all.

The world tells us that faster is better. God rarely works that way.

Throughout Scripture, we see Him forming people over years, not moments. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness. David was anointed long before he became king. Joseph spent 13 years from receiving his dreams to becoming second in command and seeing his dream realized. Even Jesus lived quietly for thirty years before beginning a three-year ministry that changed the world.

God has never been in a hurry.

Maybe we shouldn’t be either.

Maybe the tortoise wasn't remarkable because he was slow. Maybe he was remarkable because he refused to abandon his pace.

Faithfulness has a pace.

The goal has never been to race through life.

The goal is to walk faithfully with the One who is leading us.

Because a life lived at God’s pace will always accomplish more than a life lived at the world’s pace.

Until next time friend,

Janeil

Share

At the end of every chapter, Julia Cameron includes a weekly check-in. Instead of simply answering those questions privately, I wanted to create something a little different. These weekly recaps have become a space for me to reflect on what I’m learning, what God is revealing to me, and how this journey is changing me from the inside out.

There are only 3 weeks left, which is insane to write. Whether you are on this journey with me currently, in August 2026, or reading this months or years later. I hope that these reflections encourage you to pause, reflect on your own journey, and perhaps even answer the questions for yourself. If you’re walking through The Artist’s Way with me, I’d love to hear what this week has been teaching you too.

1. What I Learned

Identifying myself as a “blocked artist” has been hard to grasp. I have never felt as if I was choosing not to walk in my calling in life; thus, I never felt blocked. Throughout my life, I’ve had moments when I was able to use my gifts, and then I just moved on; I didn’t seek to profit from them because I always had a job that paid me. However, as I navigate this new season, I am realizing that I did impose blocks. The block that said, “Writing isn’t a real job; you have a family to provide for”, “Your plays are good, but you’ve never made money; It’s just a hobby.” And the block that says, “You’ve been writing for a month now; you have one paid subscriber; just go get a real job”.

These were the blocks I identified in my life, and to be honest, the revelation shocked me. I had never stopped creating. I had put a ceiling on what I believed my creativity could become. I was limiting myself, and I was also limiting my God; although it was unintentional, it was still a block nonetheless.

2. What God Showed Me

God showed me that the dreams I had as a girl—the dreams He placed in me—and the things that bring me joy may actually be the very things He intends to use to take me where He is calling me next.

3. Artist Date Highlight

This week I took myself to lunch! It may sound simple to most, but to me, eating by myself has always been a struggle. While I was out, I stopped by a local BBQ place. To be honest, the food was subpar, but being in my own company was fun!

@janeilnatalyaAnother artist date done! This week is going to be a little hectic so I took the time to get my date done early. #LegacyWriter #memories #Artistsway

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

4. Wins This Week

• Blocked doesn’t mean broken.

• My talents, the things I do naturally well, are my gift to the world.

• Remembering the girl of my youth helps me tap into God’s purpose for my life.

5. Looking Ahead

The title for Week 10 is Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection. Unlike some of the previous chapters, I’m not quite sure what to expect from this one. I’m interested to see what revelations this week will bring.

Your friend,

Janeil

Share Called to Build

Leave a comment

This summer has been one of my favorites. As much as I'm sad to see it end, I can already feel myself shifting mental gears. Back-to-school season has a way of making everything feel like a fresh start. However, the question then becomes: how do I focus and get organized as I prepare for the Fall? (Yes, I live in Houston, and yes, Shilpi, it won’t get cool until the last week in December and then go back up to 90 degrees the first weekend in January.) However, as we transition, I find myself evaluating everything around me. My desk was a mess. My workspace felt cluttered. My thoughts were even more cluttered. I had so many ideas and goals swirling around that I didn't know where to begin.

Is it too early for Spring cleaning?

One of the things that I have done in order to organize my life is request the help of ChatGPT. My question was, “I am looking to create a more organized daily/weekly plan. As well as something to keep my goals in front of me. I purchased a weekly/monthly planner, a smart goal planner, and a desk organizer. What are some other things that can assist me?”

The top 5 suggestions that I was given were:

1. Purchase a wall calendar: A wall calendar lets you see the next 30–90 days at a glance.

2. Create a Quarterly Goal Board: 90 Day focus, take everything down at the end of each quarter, replace it. To keep it fresh (and avoid it becoming wallpaper)

3. Start a Habit Tracker: Pick a handful of habits and track them daily. (Anyone who knows me knows I’ve been doing this for years. ;-) )

4. A Top 3 Daily Whiteboard: Every morning write Today’s top 3 and everything else is optional.

5. A Wins Journal: Write 3 bullet points at the end of every workday: “Today I am proud that I”

From this list, I purchased the necessary items from Amazon and began my game planning session.

But as excited as I was to order planners and whiteboards, I realized something. Organization without direction is still just organized confusion. Before I filled out a single planner page, I wanted to make sure I was building the right plans. While I was waiting, I took some time to get quiet with God. Proverbs repeatedly reminds us that before we make plans, we should first submit them to the Lord.

• Proverbs 16:9 (NLT):
  “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

• Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT):
  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart... Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

• Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)

  “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

And as a person who previously would move (quite often) without God’s blessing, I’m done making that mistake. So I took some extra time in my devotional time and spent time asking God to reveal my next steps.

Then, with my marching orders in hand, once my organizational tools came in, I was able to write everything down and move forward confidently. I’m not saying that I have all the answers to every question, but I do know that in Isaiah 42:16, God says, “I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.”

I don't have every detail of the blueprint, but I know who drew the plans. As the Master Builder, I trust God to “work all things together for good”. (Romans 8:28).

As we move into the final five months of the year, maybe it’s time for a different kind of spring cleaning. Clear the clutter from your desk, your calendar, and even your mind—but before you make your plans, place them in God’s hands.

He doesn’t promise to reveal every step before we begin.

He promises to faithfully lead us as we walk.

Until next time,

Janeil

Share

Leave a comment

It got me thinking about how short the baby season really is. A baby is only a baby for about a year. Then comes the toddler stage, which lasts a few years. Childhood stretches on for nearly a decade before the teenage years arrive. Every season brings its own joys and challenges, but there is something about the baby season that can completely consume you. The sleepless nights. The constant dependence. Learning how to care for an entirely new little person. And even if you’ve done it before, every baby is different, with their own personality, preferences, and needs.

As parents, we’re often counting down to the next milestone.

“I can’t wait until they sleep through the night.”

“I can’t wait until they start walking.”

“I can’t wait until they’re potty trained.”

And before we know it, we’ve wished away the very moments we would one day give anything to experience again.

A few weeks ago, I started listening to The Power of Now on Audible. The chapter I’m currently on has been driving home one simple truth: the only moment we truly have is this one.

That realization extends far beyond parenting.

As women. As entrepreneurs. As dreamers. As humans... we’re constantly looking toward the next thing. The next opportunity. The next paycheck. The next accomplishment. The next season. We become so focused on what’s ahead that we forget to fully inhabit the life God has already given us today.

So today, I want to offer you a gentle challenge.

Pause.

Take a deep breath.

Choose to be present.

Not because everything is perfect, but because this moment is the only one you’re guaranteed.

Thank God that you’re still here. The very fact that you woke up this morning means your purpose has not expired. There is still work for you to do, people for you to love, lessons for you to learn, and joy for you to experience.

Gratitude doesn’t erase our problems, but it has a remarkable way of putting them into perspective. Even if only for a moment, it reminds us that life itself is a gift.

As Psalm 46:10 reminds us:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Maybe being still isn’t about doing less.

Maybe it’s about noticing more.

No matter what season you are going through, choose to be grateful.

Until next time friend,

Janeil

Leave a comment

Share Called to Build

As I looked out into the ocean, I noticed birds flying just above the surface, dipping down every so often, almost as a seamless unit to catch breakfast.

It looked simple.

But God had something to show me.

Not every bird is at the beach.

At first, it sounded almost silly.

Of course, not every bird is at the beach.

Some live in forests.
Some in deserts.
Some in mountains.
Some in wetlands.
Some in cities.

Yet every one of them wakes up under the care of the same faithful Provider. And like Matthew 6:26 says “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

They are taken care of, day in and day out. They do not sit around worrying about their next meal, they were created knowing the creator would take care of them.

Imagine if every bird in the world came to Surfside Beach looking for breakfast.

The beach couldn’t contain them.

The food couldn’t sustain them.

It would be chaos.

God never intended all of creation to gather in one place because He designed provision to exist wherever He sends His creation.

God's provision is connected to God's placement.

He took the time to place all of the birds in the temperature they were created to thrive, and He has done the same for you. You are where you are for a reason! Whether you are in Texas, North Carolina, Japan, or Austria, God knows exactly where you are, and He is able to provide for you there. Acts 17:26-27 says “From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far from anyone of us.”

If you're questioning God's ability to provide, pause for a moment. The same God who feeds the birds has not overlooked you. Before you ever recognized the need, He already knew it. His provision is never caught by surprise. You are important, of all the things in Gods great earth you are where you are for such a time as this, see Esther 4:14. God doesn’t make mistakes and most importantly “the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.

The birds don’t spend their mornings worrying whether God remembers them.

They simply wake up and live as they were created to live.

Maybe that’s our invitation today.

Trust the place where God has planted you.

Trust the God who placed you there.

Because the same God who feeds the birds has never forgotten His children.

Until next time friend,

Janeil

Leave a comment

Share

At the end of every chapter, Julia Cameron includes a weekly check-in. Instead of simply answering those questions privately, I wanted to create something a little different. These weekly recaps have become a space for me to reflect on what I’m learning, what God is revealing to me, and how this journey is changing me from the inside out.

Week eight, only 4 weeks left! I feel like I just began this journey and it is almost to the end. My hope is that these reflections encourage you to pause, reflect on your own journey, and perhaps even answer the questions for yourself. If you’re walking through The Artist’s Way with me, I’d love to hear what this week has been teaching you too.

1. What I Learned

This week was a reminder that I don’t have as much trauma when it comes to me as a creative artist. I have always been surrounded by people who love and support my dreams and friends and family are my biggest cheerleaders. I know this is not the case for everyone; however I realized early on in this journey that I didn’t allow my creativity to flow consistently because I just let life happen. As I turn to intentionality my true creative being flows!

2. What God Showed Me

I’ve spent the last 2 weeks traveling and being able to marvel in the beauty that is God’s creation. I have been reminded that God is the ultimate creator and as His masterpiece I am to be a conduit to point others to Him.

3. Artist Date Highlight

The last two weeks I have spent my artist dates out in God’s beauty. Below are my recaps from week 7 (since I didn’t post last week) as well as this week, week 8.

Week 7

@janeilnatalyaMy artist date looked a little different this week but during my time with my friends I took the moment to be still and intentional with myself. #minnesota #LegacyWriter #PersonalGrowth #Artistsway

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Week 8

@janeilnatalyaAn artist date to remember. 🌅#LegacyWriter #memories #PersonalGrowth #Artistsway #walkingbyfaithandnotbysight🙌🏾🙏🏾☝🏾💪🏾

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

4. Wins This Week

• Being intentional with the time God has given me.

• Choosing presence over productivity, remembering that not every moment needs to be rushed.

5. Looking Ahead

I have one last trip with the kids to conclude this summer. I would be lying if I said I am not sad to see this summer end. It has been a good summer. I am not the person I was at the beginning of it and for that I am grateful. Through this journey so far I have learned to look for answered prayers everywhere and I will continue that practice, intentionally as I step into week 9.

Your friend,

Janeil

Share Called to Build

Sometimes it’s a note regarding the specific translation; sometimes it’s a note that refers you to another mention in Scripture. In the past, I would just gloss over those; however, lately, as I've been spending more intentional time with God, I've stopped skipping the notes and started following them. One simple footnote in Ephesians 1 completely changed the way I looked at my identity in Christ. Ephesians 1, in verse 13, there was a note. In the NLT version, it says,

“And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own* by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”

At the end of the verse is a note. When I followed it, it said: “He put his seal on you”. So if you go back and read it, in fact it says.

“And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he put His seal on you by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”

He put his seal on you!

He put his seal on me!

In today’s time, we think of a seal almost like a stamp; however, in biblical times a seal wasn't just decoration. A king's seal meant ownership.

Protection.

Authority.

Authenticity.

Belonging.

No one questioned who something belonged to because the seal answered the question.

When you became a Christian, God claimed you as His own.

He put His seal on YOU!

Regardless of your performance, bad choices, and mistakes.

God put His seal on YOU!

For those of you who are parents, I’m sure you have come across someone who looks at you and one of your kids and then states, “OMG, they look just like you!” Well, when you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you also took on His characteristics, and when someone looks at you, they should be able to say. “I see God in you”.

God didn't simply forgive you.

He claimed you.

Are we perfect? No.

However, each day as we get up, as we choose to go deeper in our relationship with Christ, we should start looking like Him. Carve out time in your day; it’s ok if it’s not the beginning, but be intentional to spend time with God because the more time you spend with Him, the more His seal imprints on you and the more you will look like Him.

Today I followed one little footnote, and it reminded me of something I desperately needed to remember.

I belong to God.

Not because I've earned it.

Not because I've been perfect.

But because through Christ, my Father placed His seal on me.

Today, follow the footnotes…

You never know where they’ll lead.

Until next time, friend,

Janeil

Share

Leave a comment

That was the plan; what’s the saying, “Man plans, and God laughs.”

In 2004, my first daughter was born, and although I attempted to go to school, it just never stuck. I entered the working world, and although I had to take occasional training to hone my craft, traditional school learning was not on my agenda. I had no desire to go back to the traditional form of school.

Looking back, I didn't stop learning—I simply stopped seeing myself as a student. My education shifted from classrooms to careers, marriage, motherhood, and the responsibilities of everyday life. I was gaining experience, but I wasn't intentionally investing in my own growth. Somewhere along the way, between trying to be a good wife, a present mom, and a dedicated employee, investing in myself quietly slipped to the bottom of the priority list. I wasn't against learning—I just wasn't making room for it.

That all began to change in 2025 when Michael asked me to join him in a challenge to read four books a month. At that time, I hadn’t picked up a book to read in years. Although I loved writing, I had never truly found pleasure in reading. I told him that 4 books a month was more than I could commit to, but I told him I would do 1 a month. Well, by the end of 2025 I had read 40 books! I was shocked at how much I was learning. Some of the books I read were for pleasure, but most of the books were for self-development, and the more I read, the more I enjoyed the person I was becoming. I didn’t realize it then, but the girl who never wanted to be a student found herself back in the chair of learning.

It wasn’t a traditional classroom with other students; it was just me, one on one with improving ME!

However, as I navigate this new season of life. I find myself in the learning chair in a different way, learning Substack, learning acquisitions, learning social media, devoting time to learning God’s word in a different way. When I stopped going to classes at Texas Tech, I never intended to stop learning; however, that’s what I did. I stopped working on myself; I went into “mommy mode” and focused on being a “good wife”. However, in order to do that, I now realize that I have to be a student of life. Not just accept me for me, but take the time to look internally and tweak as necessary. Books help me do that; the Zoom classes help me do that. Tapping into God’s word helps me do that.

The older I get, the more I realize that becoming a student again isn’t a step backward. It’s one of the greatest acts of humility and faith we can choose.

For years, I thought education had an end date. I thought graduation meant I had learned what I needed to know and it was time to simply live life. But God has shown me that growth was never supposed to stop. He is constantly inviting us to learn, to stretch, to be refined, and to become more like Him.

Today my classroom looks different than I imagined at eighteen. My textbooks are books on leadership, business, and personal growth. My professors are mentors, authors, entrepreneurs, and pastors. My assignments are the challenges God places in front of me each day. And the Holy Spirit has become my greatest Teacher.

I’ve come to believe that the people God can use the most are those who never stop learning.

So wherever you are in your journey, don’t be afraid to sit back down in the classroom. Read the book. Ask the question. Learn the skill. Study God’s Word. Allow Him to reshape the way you think.

Because the moment we believe we’ve learned everything we need to know is often the moment we stop growing.

And I don’t know about you, but I want to be a lifelong student of the One who still has so much to teach me.

Your friend,

Janeil

Share Called to Build

Such a powerful word to be so small.

My whole life part of who I am has always been identified by my hair. When I used to relax my hair I was told I had that “good hair” and now as a natural I am told that my hair texture is “nice because it isn’t’ too kinky”. For a long time I let my hair define my feelings of self. If I was having a good hair day, then my attitude was good. If I was having a bad hair day, well we won’t talk about that.

I found myself trying to create an image that I thought would be appealing to all. When my hair was relaxed I thought the straighter it was the more I would fit in. Even with my hair currently in it’s natural straight I find myself trying to “tame it” from looking too bushy.

Who taught me that?

Not God.

Society.

We are told that we have to be skinny but not too skinny. We are told that the taller you are the more beautiful you are. And to take it one step further we are told the lighter you are the more beautiful you are.

Boxes.

But that’s not what God says about us.

God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). He doesn’t measure our worth by our hair texture, our height, our skin tone, or the number on a scale. In fact, when Samuel was looking for Israel’s next king, God reminded him:

“People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT)

And what’s in our hearts will eventually be seen through our lives. Jesus said:

“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7:20, NLT)

Luke records it this way:

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit... A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart...” (Luke 6:43–45, NLT)

Don’t get me wrong, God wants us to take care of our temple. He says so in his word, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NLT)

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

I'm not saying we should neglect the bodies God has entrusted to us. We should care for them, honor them, and steward them well. But our bodies were never meant to become our identity. At the end of the day when God calls us home, we don’t get to take these bodies with us. So, it doesn’t matter if we are tall, short, have straight hair or curly. The two things that matter is the impact that we make on this earth while we are here and if we used the talents that God gave us while we were here.

Talents

God put you on this planet with specific talents. We’ve all heard the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30. If you haven’t, here’s the short version.

Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man preparing to leave on a journey. Before he leaves, he entrusts three servants with portions of his wealth. To one man he gave five talents, to one he gives two and the other he gives one.

When the master returns, the servant with five has doubled his investment to ten, and the servant with two has doubled his to four. But the servant with one talent buries it in the ground out of fear. Needless to say, the master was UPSET! He takes the talent away from the servant who buried it and gives it to the one who now has ten. Why? Because what God entrusts to us was never meant to be hidden—it was meant to be used.

God has entrusted every one of us with unique gifts, abilities, experiences, and opportunities. Too often we become distracted by society’s expectations and spend our lives trying to fit into someone else’s box. Meanwhile, the very gifts God intended to change the world remain buried.

But our talents were never about making a name for ourselves.

They were always about making His name known.

Impact

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His followers one final commission:

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15, NLT)

That wasn’t just a command for the disciples. It’s our calling as well. Every day that you draw breath means that your purpose still needs to be fulfilled on this earth. You are here for a reason, for some of us that is as simple as speaking to that neighbor of yours, invite your un-saved friend or family member to church. To others that may be standing behind a pulpit or writing on Substack ;-).

You never know what God will do through your willingness to use the gifts He has given you. The smile you offer, the conversation you start, the story you share, or the act of obedience you choose today could be exactly what someone needs to take one more step toward Him.

You don’t know whose life you’re touching.

So tomorrow morning, get dressed. Take your shower. Shave. Do your hair. Put on your makeup. Whatever your morning routine looks like, do it with confidence.

But don’t confuse your appearance with your purpose.

God didn’t place you on this earth because of how you look. He placed you here because of the difference only you can make.

There is only one you. I can’t fulfill the purpose God has given you, and you can’t fulfill the one He has given me.

Yes, how you present yourself matters. But what matters most isn’t the image you leave in people’s minds—it’s the impact you leave on their hearts.

Live in such a way that people don’t just remember what you looked like.

May they remember the fruit you produced, the love you shared, and the God they saw through you.

Until next time friend,

Janeil

Share

Out of nowhere, my workout headphones announced, “Disconnected.”

They’ve never done that before. Honestly, I wasn’t even listening to anything at the time, so it didn’t interrupt my workout. The unexpected message interrupted my zoned-out autopilot mode, but since I wasn’t using them at the time, I continued my walk.

About ten minutes later, they spoke again.

“Connected.”

Again, since I wasn’t using them, I didn’t investigate what happened. But the moment stayed with me. It made me wonder if my relationship with Christ sometimes looks the same way.

There have been seasons when I’ve chased after God with everything I had. I stayed in His Word longer. I spent more time praying. I lingered in His presence because I desperately needed direction, wisdom, or an answer. CONNECTED

Then, somewhere along the way, I’d receive the answer I had been praying for. And without realizing it, I’d begin to disconnect. I’d sleep in instead of waking up for my devotion. I’d skip a day...then another. The urgency I once had slowly faded. DISCONNECTED

I don’t think I ever consciously decided that I no longer needed God.

But my actions sometimes told a different story.

As I continued my walk, one question stayed with me:

What would my life look like if I pursued God with the same passion after receiving the answer as I did while waiting for it?

Maybe that’s where I’ve had it backwards.

I’ve often viewed God as the destination I run toward when life becomes difficult. But what if He was never meant to be a destination at all? What if I always just viewed Him for what he truly is, my source?

As Christians, I wonder if we fail to experience everything that comes with being children of God—not because He withholds it from us, but because we disconnect from the very relationship He invites us to enjoy every day.

What if the greatest blessing isn’t the answer I’ve been praying for?

What if it’s access?

Access to the wisdom of the Creator. Access to His peace when life feels chaotic. Access to His strength when mine runs out. Access to His joy, His comfort, His correction, and His presence every single day.

As Christians, I wonder if we sometimes live beneath everything God has already made available to us—not because He has withheld it, but because we’ve settled for visiting Him instead of abiding with Him.

Imagine your father being a King and you are the Prince or Princess, but instead of sleeping in your massive room, you always slept in the garden on the floor. Imagine that every night he had a large banquet of food available, but you went to McDonald’s for dinner. When said like this, it doesn’t make sense. However, we make decisions like this all of the time. We connect and disconnect from God constantly, but our actions don’t change who He is. None of those choices change the fact that we are still His sons and daughters. They simply keep us from experiencing everything that comes with living in relationship with our Father.

That’s the part God showed me during my walk.

I’ve spent too many seasons reconnecting only when I needed an answer. But I don’t want my pursuit of God to be driven by my circumstances anymore. I want to remain connected whether I’m waiting, celebrating, grieving, or simply walking through an ordinary Tuesday.

God has been inviting me all along into a relationship not built around my needs, but one built around His presence.

Because the greatest blessing isn’t just hearing His voice when I need direction.

It’s staying connected to the One who never disconnected from me.

Stay connected, friend,

Until next time!

Janeil

Welcome to my Artist Way weekly recap

At the end of every chapter, Julia Cameron includes a weekly check-in. Instead of simply answering those questions privately, I wanted to create something a little different. These weekly recaps have become a space for me to reflect on what I’m learning, what God is revealing to me, and how this journey is changing me from the inside out.

We have just six weeks left, and I’m excited to see where this process leads. My hope is that these reflections encourage you to pause, reflect on your own journey, and perhaps even answer the questions for yourself. If you’re walking through The Artist’s Way with me, I’d love to hear what this week has been teaching you too.

1. What I Learned

As I started this week, Julia had us focusing on our finances. For years I’ve used the same budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets, and if I’m honest, I have a very clear picture of my spending habits—both the good and the bad. Through this current journey, I’ve become intentional about sitting down every Thursday or Friday to pay the bills for the week ahead so I know exactly what’s going out and what’s left. This wasn’t something I used to do, but it’s a practice I’ll carry with me from this point forward, regardless of what my bank account looks like.

Money has been one of my greatest obstacles and hardships. I wasn’t taught healthy financial habits, and breaking the patterns I developed in my twenties has been a challenge—even to this day.

But something has shifted.

As I continue to surrender more fully to God—trusting His plan, His timing, and His will—I’ve watched Him make the numbers work in ways I can’t always explain. No matter what comes in, whether it’s a little or a lot, I’m learning to trust Him as my provider rather than my bank account. That doesn’t mean I stop budgeting or being a good steward; it means I no longer carry the weight of believing it’s all up to me.

Julia writes, “What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us.”

2. What God Showed Me

God showed me that abundance isn’t monetary; abundance is trust.

I had several big financial decisions to make this week regarding my daughter’s schooling, my education as a writer, and my growth as a leader and speaker. Each decision required me to take a step of faith before I knew the outcome.

The amazing thing was that the moment I made those decisions, peace came over me. Then, less than ten hours later, all I could do was watch God’s hand begin to move.

What started as a $16,000 balance for my daughter’s schooling was reduced to $7,000, with additional credits still to be applied. What looked like a closed door for our SBA application turned out to be nothing more than a small paperwork oversight, ending with a pre-approval greater than any of us imagined.

Yes, the answers to these prayers had financial implications, but that wasn’t the greatest blessing.

In the greater picture of things, I realize that the victories that occurred this week were much greater. As I reflect on the actual lesson of abundance, I know God’s abundance in my life not only shows up monetarily but, in my friendships, relationships, in my career connections and in all facets of my life.

His abundance overflows into every area of my life, and for that I am truly blessed beyond measure.

3. Artist Date Highlight

This week I decided to remove the complication of “what to do for my artist date” and leaned into just doing something I would not have normally done. I went to a local coffee shop, grabbed a cup of coffee and just colored! For an hour I chose to drown out the world around me and tap into my inner child. I’ll definitely will be doing it again soon.

@janeilnatalyaI decided to stop overthinking and just be! Spent an hour just coloring with a cup of coffee in my hand! It was so relaxing! Artist date #6 is done! #Artistsway #CalledToBuild #PersonalGrowth #walkingbyfaithandnotbysight🙌🏾🙏🏾☝🏾💪🏾

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

4. Wins This Week

• Remembering that God is not a genie—He is my Father. He desires good things for my life, but even more than that, He wants me to grow, mature, and win in every area of my life.

• The power of being present. When problems arise, I don’t have to panic or race ahead. I can pause, acknowledge what I’m feeling, and prayerfully choose the next right step.

• Trusting God one step at a time. God isn’t asking me to see the entire journey ahead. He’s simply asking me to trust Him enough to take the next step, knowing He is already waiting there.

5. Looking Ahead

The title for Week 7 is Recovering a Sense of Connection. Over the past several weeks, God has been drawing me closer to Him while also teaching me to slow down long enough to reconnect with myself. Strong relationships with my family and friends have always been a priority, so I'm curious to see how this week's lessons will deepen my understanding of connection.

Your friend,

Janeil

Share Called to Build