{"id":2733,"date":"2025-12-29T13:29:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T18:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/12\/29\/finishing-strong\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T13:29:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T18:29:12","slug":"finishing-strong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/12\/29\/finishing-strong\/","title":{"rendered":"Finishing strong."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\ud83c\udfb6 I've had my share of ups and downs
Times when there was no one around
God came and spoke these words to me
Praise will confuse the enemy
I've had my share of ups and downs
Times when there was no one around (God came and spoke)
God came and spoke these words to me (praise will)
Praise will confuse the enemy (so I started singing)
I started singing (oh), I started clapping (oh), I started dancing
People were laughing (people were laughing)
They knew my problems (they knew my problems)
They knew my pain (they knew my pain)
But I knew God (but I knew God would take them away)
Oh-ooh-oh
Hear me sing that verse one more time, listen, listen, it says
I've had my share of ups and downs
Times when there was no one around
God came and spoke these words to me (praise will)
Praise will confuse the enemy (so I started singing)
I started singing (oh), I started clapping (oh), I started dancing
People were laughing (people were laughing)
'Cause they knew my problems (they knew my problems)
And they knew my pain (they knew my pain)
But I knew God (but I knew God would take them away), that's why
That's why I praise Him with my hands (hm)
That's why I praise Him with a dance (oh)
He's given me a second chance
Come on, let's praise Him in advance
That's why I praise Him with a song
When things are right and when things go wrong (when things are right and when they're wrong)
He's given me a second chance
Come on, let's praise Him in advance
Praise Him (praise Him)
Come on in here (praise Him)
Open your mind (praise Him)
Bless the Lord (praise Him)
Praise Him (praise Him)
Come on, praise (praise Him)
Come on and praise Him (praise Him in advance)
Everybody praise Him? (Praise Him)
Open your mouth (praise Him)
Give Him glory (praise Him)
Tell your story (praise Him)
Bless His name (praise Him)
Come on (praise Him)
Everybody praise Him in advance
Praise Him (praise Him)
In the good times (praise Him)
Praise Him (praise Him)
When things are going wrong (praise Him)
Praise Him (praise Him)
Help me in here (praise Him)
Come on and praise (praise Him in advance), oh
Praise Him (praise Him)
He is worthy (praise Him)
Come on in here (praise Him)
For my life (for my life), I will (praise Him)
Praise Him in advance
Oh, praise Him (praise Him)
When things are good (praise Him)
Praise Him (praise Him)
Trouble on every side (praise Him)
And when I'm broke (when I'm broke), I will (praise Him)
Praise Him in advance
Oh, oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh (oh-oh)
Oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh-oh-oh
Come on and praise Him in advance (come on)
Oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh (oh-oh)
Oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh-oh-oh
Come on and (praise Him in advance)
Oh, oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh-oh (oh-oh)
Oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh-oh-oh
Come on and (praise Him in advance)
One more time, one more time, oh-oh (oh-oh)
Sometimes, I don't know the words to say (oh-oh)
I say oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh (oh-oh), oh-oh-oh-oh
Come on and praise Him in advance \ud83c\udfb6 

Lyrics from Marvin Sapp song entitled, Praise Him in Advance<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Like everyone I have had my share of ups and downs this year. I\u2019ve shed plenty of tears, had very trying times, had moments when I felt weak, had plenty of good times too! All in all everything that I\u2019ve gone through this year has taught me a lesson. And out of those lessons I\u2019ve learned that no matter if situations happened that came to break me or make me, God was right beside me every step of the way. He allowed certain moments to happen that really deepened my dependence on Him. All in all I am glad that God is allowing me to finish what He started! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year I\u2019m not looking to post things or concern myself with New Year Resolutions. I\u2019m not worrying myself for setting unattainable goals or ridiculous deadlines setting myself up for failure from the jump. No I\u2019m not focusing on what needs to be in my bank account, what the scale should read, how many awards and accolades I should obtain, I\u2019m not even focusing on what lies ahead anymore. I won\u2019t psych myself out by comparing my growth to anyone or by listening to other peoples opinions on how I should move or what my life should look like. I\u2019m silencing the noise because truth be told, as humans we invest too much off our energy on other peoples opinions. It\u2019s like walking outside to check my mail; who cares if I\u2019m not wearing a bra? Who cares if my pajama pants look like they are painted on? Does it matter? I couldn\u2019t care less and that is so freeing to me! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m so sick and tired of \u201ccoloring within the lines\u201d and putting on a certain face hiding my true feelings just to make other people happy. I\u2019m so sick of being who everyone expects me to be so you know what I\u2019m just going to do and be me! And I\u2019ve come to terms with the fact some folks won\u2019t like this new approach I have and frankly I DONT care. Not being rude, but just being real! I\u2019m going into this next season of life without a push up bra (how my girls sit is exactly how they are going to fall), I\u2019m not wearing a panty girdle just to control my hips from shaking (bring out your tambourine and dance to this beat), I\u2019m continuing not to wear make up because my face is my face scars, dark spots, blemishes and all (unless I\u2019m trying to be a doll for the evening), and I\u2019m definitely wearing more leggings and stretchy pants because they are so comfy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I guess some are asking what has gotten into Whitnee\u2019 lately? She seems so different. It must be the kids? Or probably Rico done did something again? Maybe she isn\u2019t taking her vitamins or getting enough rest? <\/em>Hahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaha!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whitnee\u2019 woke up and finally started to give myself flowers instead of tidying up other people\u2019s roses while my own garden has been slowly dying. I have been getting rest which is helping me to think clearly, freely, and just be! So unorthodox right?! I\u2019m in such a beautiful place and so I now have the courage, strength, power, and motivation to finish strong!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bills still the same (high), the boys still aggravating and always asking for stuff (I love them deeply and affect them just as they are), Rico still snores, has stank feet, and leaves urine on the toilet seat and blames it on the kids, car still broke, Coco still barking, house still needs to get cleaned, and I\u2019m still waiting on Micah to clean his room BUT God is still good and I couldn\u2019t be happier! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t realize how being on fumes since June could really have this looming cloud over my head. It\u2019s like I\u2019ve had this motor running in me so long that I was conditioned to how I should think, speak, eat, respond, react, heck even the times of the day I should use the restroom. Like I said the other day the road I was headed down, I literally would have crashed and burned. It wasn\u2019t sustainable. It\u2019s like I was living for other people, trying to do and be my best for them, and repeating what I said yesterday- totally neglecting Whitnee\u2019. How long can one pour from an empty cup before they wake up? Some people unfortunately don\u2019t realize it until they are six feet under and people are throwing dirt on their graves. Thank God, He allowed time to slow down and He allowed me to get the best rest I\u2019ve gotten since I was an adult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being in survival mode 24\/7 you really never stop to just be! Let\u2019s be honest you so worried about your lights getting cut off, trying to figure out where your next meal coming from, etc. that you are just going through the motions and floating in the air while skating on thin ice. God allowed my ice to break, and I fell in but I\u2019m not coming out like I went in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, \u201cShadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!\u201d

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, \u201cPraise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king\u2019s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.\u201d

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Daniel 3:26-30<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
My sister told me that this epiphany or reckoning I\u2019ve had is the BEST GIFT I could give myself and the ones I love! And I wholeheartedly agree with her. I can be present where it truly matters. I can show up and show support in areas where the busyness of life held me captive. I can actually slow down and enjoy the fruits of my labor and smile accepting things just as they are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is this how it feels after smoking a blunt? I mean I tried it before, but all it gave me was heartburn and the munchies. <\/em>I say this to say, I AM FREE, PRAISE THE LORD I AM FREE! It feels good to stop wishing and hoping upon of a star, waiting for a financial breakthrough to come, waiting for the abdominal and pelvic pain to stop, praying for God to open that door or answer that pray AND JUST BE! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was a little girl I always used to clip photos out of magazines and make collages of white men (I used to love me a white man up until I met Rico lol- they just didn\u2019t love me), skinny light skin or white girls (I am not skinny nor am I white or light skinned), beautiful pearly white teeth without a gap or an overbite (I have both), convertible cars, horses, white picket fences, and everything. I was so wrapped up in a fairy tale over the years I tried to change who God created me to be instead of just embracing it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faith always would say, \u201cI love your gap, you not getting it closed.\u201d Rico would always say, \u201cBaBez you are Beautiful just the way you are!\u201d Rolling me since first grade, I would expect Faith to say that. Being the Mother of 3 of Rico kids and his wife for 18 years, I expected him to say that BUT never in a million years did I ever think I would FINALLY accept the Whitnee\u2019 with the gap, a few gray strands of hair from stressing over my Dispatch days, dark neck, XL top, 16\/18W in pants, fat feet, stubby hands, more stretch marks then you can count on a family of 5 hands and feet, and dark skin. I\u2019m so happy I love who I am and my smile genuinely reflects that I am God\u2019s daughter, I am His perfect creation, I have a big heart, I LOVE, Love, LOVE people, I celebrate life, I don\u2019t hold grudges, I\u2019m easy to forgive, and I am a work in progress that knows I need Jesus. I am perfectly imperfect and I am just fine!!!! From where I stand, I am finishing better and stronger than I started! <\/strong>And for that I celebrate and thank God! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I want to share a few biblical principles for finishing strong: <\/p>\n\n\n\n