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Finding My Place

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There are times where you know where you fit it. Then there are times when you don’t.

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This weekend I spent some time looking at the world, my life, and ministry.

As I looked and thought, I wondered where I fit in.  I started thinking about the big picture and how God wants to use me.

God has placed, in each one of us, gifts and talents.  He has given us to our families, friends, ministries, and the world.  Yet, we cannot do it all, all of the time.

I say this because there are times, when I want to do it all and be all to all people, but truth be told, that is now wise nor possible.

I have to look at the things that are going on in my life and be prayerful about how God desires for me to be productive in a situation.

All of this thinking, for a short time, caused me to feel like I had no place.  I saw myself as a speck of sand on a beach full of sand…where did I fit in and what was the point.

I saw all of the problems of the world and wanted to be a part of the solutions.  I saw all of the pain and wanted to be a part of the healing.  I wanted to be a help…

Here’s what I mean…

I don’t just want to be a replica of some other mother, wife, woman…I want to be who God created me to be.  In all of my uniqueness…and I am very unique and still I am commonly, uncommon…I stand out in various ways that are not always comfortable.  This caused me to ask…should I be.  Should I stand out because I am just like the others or should I be comfortable being uncomfortable because I stand out as me…just the way God created me to be.

I hope this makes sense because I am not trying to confuse you.

I want you to know, as I am realizing, that God has called each one of us to be very different in this world.  We may have certain qualities or circumstances that are similar to our sisters in Christ, or even have some stories that the other women in the world may relate to, but we are not supposed to look like, sound like, and dress like them.

Our identity must rest in Christ.  This must be our resting place…a place of comfort.

As I thought of these things, I felt inadequate…as if I could not handle those things that God has brought me to handle.  I had, for a brief moment lost my sight.  I could not see where I fit in…

But God…

As I thought…I contemplated…I read my Bible…I prayed…I waited…and I prayed some more…

He reminded me that I fit in Him.  He is my source and my purpose.  He is the reason why I am alive and my reason for being.  I had to stop thinking on how big the world was and all that was going on in it and focus on how great my God is.  Realizing His awesomeness, allowed me to grasp hold of his purpose for me…

In this I rested…

As I rested, it was revealed.

Perfectionism, is not the way to go.

Being like everyone else is not the way to go.

Being recommended or recognized…even honored, are not the ways to go.

The way to go is by His grace, as I trust His leading…

In that moment, as I dwelled on Him…I was at peace.  I could see that none of my own expectations or the expectations of the world may add up, but His will…would.

In this…I found peace.

I realized, through His revelation that all of the things that He reveals to me through various avenues, He will put to use, in time…

What He gives me to use, when He gives me to use it..can be utilized, as long as I trust in Him…

In this, I heard His voice…

Calling me to listen harder and pay attention amongst all of the noise…

In this…I found my place in all of this

Just Be You

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Being original isn’t hard, but for some reason, we all struggle at it a little bit.

We look around and see certain things working for some people and other things working for others. We wonder, “could any of this work for me.”

Without saying no, I am saying that it is extremely critical that we realize the importance in being unique.

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Out of all the people in the world, there are no two that share the same fingerprint. That says a lot.

Although we all have eyes and they range from green, to blue, to brown…no two people have the same iris or retinal pattern.

I would bet that if we were to count the number of hairs on our heads, we would find that we differ there as well.

What does this say about our Maker? What does this say about us.

Well, from where I’m sitting, it says that He likes variety and uniqueness. It says that being special is not found in our commonality, but in our uniqueness.

This makes sense because some people wonder how God could find you, me, and 50,000 others special. The truth is we are all special in different ways. He looks at us and sees who we are and that is what makes us special.

We each make Him laugh a certain way. We get His attention and touch His heart in a certain way…

Do you see where I am going with this?

Our family and friends feel the same way, even if they never say it. They see how unique and special we are and their hearts smile…

I am saying all of this to help you, and me, walk upright with our heads held high because we are, in our uniqueness, great.

So stop trying to be like the other gal and just be you…

A Moment to Ponder

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The organization posts will pick back up tomorrow. For now, let’s think on this. IMG_9867.JPG (photo from lifehack.com)

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

This says a lot…
Let’s take some time to think on it…

Getting It Together…

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Getting It TogetherWell, today is Monday, and you know what that means…

It means, more to do, places to go, people to see, and so much more…

Even if you are stuck in the house on a Monday, there is a lot going on in your mind…

I say this, because I know.

I used to have headaches because I had so much to do or that I wanted to do.

I was thinking about so much stuff, that my brain was cluttered with all of my todo’s.

Then I read

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

I had so much going on in my mind…I longed for peace.  I wanted to trust God.  I wanted to submit to Him.  I wanted to all that He had to offer, but I could not figure out where to start.

I’ve been a writer all of my life.  Since I was in kindergarten, I’ve written things down.

Yet at this point in my life, when I was so frustrated and confused, I had stopped doing what I loved.

I wrote when I had to, but when I needed and wanted to, I just wouldn’t.

After reading these scriptures and asking God to help me, I began to desire to get organized.  I looked high and low for the answers…not knowing what to do, I started writing again.  Not stories or anything, just lists.

I made so many lists…looking back, I laugh now, but making those lists, began to empty out my brain.

The more I wrote down my ‘to do’s’ the more I felt relief.  I would write my list and ask God to help me accomplish what He had for me.

Shortly after my season of lists, I came across the Franklin Covey planner.

I followed the steps outlined in the starter pack and before I knew it, I was getting it together.

I had a purpose and mission statement.  I had life goals and my mind felt free.

Now, here I am today…I use my planner, lists, and I’m pretty organized…although the we could all use some improvement…I’m happy with my organizational skills.

I’ve had a lot of women, over the past few months, tell me that they are not organized and wished that they were.

Let me say this…You can be free too!  You can be organized!  You can get it together!

For the rest of this week, I will be posting tips on how you can get it together, by organizing your mind and life…Your assignment for today is to read over the scriptures that I mentioned above.

Proverbs 3:5,6
Philippians 4:6
Proverbs 16:9

After you have read these scriptures, write out what each one makes you think of. Write the directions that God is giving you through each scripture

Pray, out loud, that God would help you do His will, trust Him, and hear Him, as you take this journey.

Finally…Rest in Him

Join me here tomorrow, as I offer you the tools and tips needed to get it together…

 

I’m Overwhelmed…

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We all have these days…

You know them…

Days where it’s hard to move forward…

Hard to smile…

Hard to function…

Not because of the weather, or something that just happened, but because something is bothering you…

Something is causing you to be emotional…

Something that makes you want to quit…

To say, “I’m done.”

It makes you vulnerable and turns everything else into a big deal too…

Capable of snapping on someone…

You hold back…

Shut down…

Pull back the tears…

And run inside where no one but God can see you…

And while there…you say…

“God why?!”

Everyone around you thinks they know, but they have no clue…

If you are like me, you realize…

THIS IS OVERWHELMING!!!

STOP!!! STOP RIGHT THERE!!!

What is the problem?  Who is the problem?  Why is there a problem?  Why such great turmoil, pain, agony…Why?

We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood…No

We wrestle against the principalities in this life, against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces in this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places… That’s what Ephesians 6:12, 13 says.

They make themselves known and affect us by whispering things in our ears, throwing destructive darts at our minds, and aiming their blows at our hearts…

But we have a choice…

Say this with me…

OVERWHELMED!!! YES, I AM OVERWHELMED!!!!

I am overwhelmed with emotions, but I will decide why I am overwhelmed… and it is not because of what these forces have to dish out against me…

NO!!!

I am overwhelmed because I serve a great God that is more than able to take care of me and everything that attempts to overwhelm me.

I am overwhelmed because of His great salvation.  I am overwhelmed because of His love.  I am overwhelmed because of His heart for me.

I am overwhelmed because of His power and His might…

I am overwhelmed because in the midst of my emotions, He makes Himself known…through the trees, the wind…

Through the birds…

Through the color of everything around me…

He whispers in my heart…

FEAR NOT!!! I AM HERE AND I HAVE ALREADY OVERCOME THEM!!! HAVE COURAGE AND HOLD ON TO ME…I AM HERE AND I’VE GOT THIS…

You just don’t know how completely overwhelmed I am right now…

I can feel His love…can you?

In the mist of my brokenness…in the midst of my ache…I know He is all-powerful.

My husband said “Don’t let anyone mess up your day!  Have a good one…”

That was God, speaking through Him…

The “let” in his statement said “take authority…don’t let it have power over you…put on the armor of God and stand”

Today, I stand on my knees…worshiping HIM.

I will choose what overwhelms me.  It will not be the cares of this life, or the problems…or the people…It will be God! He will overwhelm me…

Have you ever felt overwhelmed?

How do you handle it?

Are you able to take control of your emotions and focus on Him?

Try it! Next time let Him overwhelm you…it may take a minute, but whisper “God help me to be overwhelmed by you.” and I promise you will experience a great and powerful overwhelming that you will yearn for again…

Watch these two videos…

A Season of…

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Word Wednesday

Today, I am going to share something with you…

Something very dear to my heart…

I’m a little nervous about sharing it because I think I hold back a little here, on this blog, but I think it’s time to give it my all…

Not only that, but I am following God’s lead here.  I believe that this is something that He wants me to share, so I will go where He takes me…

 

I was born a dreamer…

That’s right, a visionary…

I’d have dreams and visions, I still do…

If you need someone too believe in you, I am your gal.  I can see it!  I believe that there is no dream too big because we have a great God.

And if you have read my blog before you know that my favorite Scripture is Romans 10:11. It says that no one who puts their faith in God will ever be put to shame.

Now while we are talking big, there are dreams that I’ve had for myself, as well.  They are beautiful dreams that I have had hidden in my heart for a very long time.  Yet there is something  that, if you don’t know, I am going to tell you, must happen…a process.

As a dreamer, I didn’t know, nor was I taught that the dream didn’t just come to pass as quickly as it was tucked away in my heart.  Yet as I have lived this life and walked with God, He has shown me the truth in His Word.

Eccl 3:1-8 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

I’ve experienced different seasons in my life. There was a time for fun; a time for preparation; a time to learn, a time for sacrifice; a time for laughter, a time for weeping…boy did I weep?! I thoroughly remember the time when I had to learn to be resilient.

During these times, I didn’t know what to call them.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, not knowing what to call these times or truly understanding them…I pushed against the things that were happening. My heart was breaking. I wondered why, when, and how long…I lost sight of the dream. I thought, for a split moment, that God had changed His mind about me and the plans He had for me.

Yet I was always reminded of Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

One translation says, “to give you hope and a future.”

During these times, I needed to be reminded of God’s faithfulness…to His people…to His Word…to me…

Because He was and always is faithful…

So now here I am. I stand as a different woman, years later. I’ve had a few opportunities come knocking at my door and they have looked really good, but…it’s not time for them. It’s time for patience. It’s time to wait on God to do what only He can.  While I wait on Him, I will live this life as a wife, woman, and mother…a friend, teacher, confidante, a servant to all who God leads me to…I will continue to focus on the things that are important…

That means I’ve had to say no…a few times…and wonder if I made the right decision.

But I thank God for the Holy Spirit. He always reminds of what God’s Word says.

In this time of patience, I have to remember

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

I’ll keep dreaming, planning, hoping, believing…and most of all waiting on Him patiently.

Today I want to give you an assignment. Once you do it, you can Tweet me, Instagram, Facebook, email me, or comment below…whichever you choose. Just as long as you do it.

The first thing is for you to think and pray about the season that you are in.

The second is to give it a name.

Third, find a scripture that helps you in this season. It should be something for you to stand on while you are here.

Then let me know, so that I can be praying for and with you. Let me know so that I can encourage you. Let me know because it’s nice to connect with others who are identifying where they are and walking in that place. (Use the hashtag #seasonof(__________) You fill in the blank.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Please watch this video.