Encouragement | Lynden's Wild Travel Adventures

Why are we Here? Why do we exist? Most of us, if we are lucky, will live for at least seventy years. some will figure out why reasonably quickly; some never do. If you look at the statistics, you will find that the people who figure it out and do something to bring it to past live a happier and more satisfying life.

The other night I have the distinct pleasure of meeting Yvette Norwood Tiger and her husband at her jazz performance at the famed Ball and Chain in the Historic Downtown Miami. This club has been there since 1935 and has seen many notable jazz and blues artists.

Ms. Norwood-Tiger has a voice that reminds me of Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday and she sings in many different languages. I went to her website and saw that she has tour dates not only in Florida but she will be going on a European tour. When she comes to your city, go see her; she is phenomenal.

If you are privileged to see her show, she usually will share her testimony that many years ago, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the doctors did not expect her to survive. If she did, she would not likely be able to sing or even listen to music again. But along with Gods grace and some good doctors, she survived and has become an international Singer.

I got the chance to chat with her between sets. Yvette was born with this ability to sing, but because of fear, she never sang publicly. In fact, neither her mother nor father heard her sing until just before the end of their life. She hid her talent from everyone even to those closest to her. I was flabbergasted because to see her on stage, it’s like she was transported to her happy place. It is like this is where she was born to be.

After further probing, I found out that she is an introvert, but after being to death’s door and after being given a chance at life, she decided to use her talent, her GOD given ability, the reason for her existence. With the Lord’s help, she conquered her fear, and now it is her passion.

We are all guilty. we all let fear or some other excuses to hold us back stop us from being our very best self. We get an unknown amount of years to make a difference. Are you satisfied with the years you have used? Make a difference today! Don’t wait for the perfect time.

The ideal time will never come.

HE is the potter we are the clay………Pain is inevitable, the struggle is optional. We all go through some kind of difficulty in our lives and when I ask why Lord do we have so much pain in our lives the answer I got was in order to build our faith and increase our praise. I have come to learn that worry and fret does not fix anything…it actually is more destructive to our mental happiness and destroys our peace.

Crying out to God asking him for strength to ride out the pain which in pottery its the hardening process. God will never give you more than you can bear… I know that when you are in it nothing can be worse and it feels like you will never survive but I am here to say…….With GOD’S help, you will make it through, and it will be your testimony the harder the trial the Greater the testimony.

In my life I have had some pain to the point of a suicide attempt, the pain seemed so unbearable, it seemed like it was no way out. I told myself I was no good….. worthless. All negative self-talk that is so unhealthy and is from the pits of hell. God does not make junk! As I read Psalm 139, David reminds us how much I am valued by God.

I hit rock bottom and did not have anywhere to turn at 4 am in the morning, I went on my knees and asked God to take the pain away to show me a way out. And he did, for some reason, I had my laptop with me, and I decided to open Facebook, and God sent and Angel in the shape of an old friend that I had not spoken to for a long time and lived in a different country. She sent me a message via Messenger inquiring why I was up in the wee hours of the morning and that she could not sleep. And she talked me off the ledge. We text back and forth for hours, and through her, I realized that God needed/wanted me here to make a difference and there is always a way out.

It has been a few years now, and I realized how foolish and selfish I was, I would have left work undone on this side of Heaven and inflicted, even more pain in hearts of all the people who love and care for me. Thank You, God!

There are a few things I want to reiterate……..When you are in pain,

Reach out to God in prayer…. Ask him to help you through your valley experience
Stop the negative self-talk….. Everyone is here for a reason you are unique and precious
Know that all will be well…… There will come a time that you look back it won’t seem as bad as it looks now.
Share your experience…… Help someone else that maybe going through a painful experience and need a word of encouragement.

It is sincerely my hope that I will help someone in their time of need…….. Peace and Be Blessed