Just As I am

I’m discovering that the journey to increased leadership must begin with self-examination
Examining the things buried deep that shapes self
How can you lead if you do not know yourself? How can I?
You and I know must learn to name what we identify with.
Because what we identify with determines whether we will lead others
to light or darkness.

I want to assume a humble role to change my piece of the world.
Even so, my identity should not be based on performance. Neither should yours.
Because I know I will fail. I will fail you. You will fail me.
But because we fail does not mean we are failures.
I really mean it. Read it. Sing it. Eat it. Breathe it. Pray it.
Whether you are a great leader, on your way there or not much of one
You and I must accept that our worth is not fixed on variable factors.
My-your-our worth is not based on roles played at work, in life, or accomplishments
Seen earthly things DO NOT define your identity.

Eve's daughters have been broken in so many ways.
Sweet sisters, we must learn to associate the word WORTHLESS with LIE
The sooner we claim this truth, the sooner a defeated life can be left behind.
Whether you now it or not, your identity is SETTLED & SECURE as one that is precious and dearly loved.
As a child of God, you and I have been given new names. It’s true.
Our new names are
remade, new, chosen, dearly loved, righteous, forgiven, beloved, accepted & worthy.
It took me awhile to believe it too. But I promise you that it’s TRUTH.
The TRUE you. The true ME.

So for this week, ponder and share we us: what is in you that blesses others?

Gritty Gratitude

A prayer of thanks to my Abba:

Thank you Father.

Thank you for allowing me to see myself clearly through the lens of grace.

I saw that have been self-indulgent. I have been the girl who takes little responsibility for her actions.

I have worn malice and the pointing finger as a second skin.

I have refused to take small steps of faith; steps leading to a life full of God’s big-ness.

I have snubbed growth and maturity.

I have greedily accepted to be pampered, nurtured, cared for, loved on 

without fully committing to doing that for others.

I have been selfish. Selfish with my time, myself & my energy.

That has led me to miss opportunities to speak strength and possibility into the lives of those around me.

I was too busy believing that I couldn’t initiate.

My actions have fallen short of my intentions to do good.

My doing tell a tale of me focusing on me—what I think, what I want, what I need, what I think I need.

ME. Me. M.e.

But I want more of YOU inside small me.

Thank you for showing me that in order to be filled with You, I must be emptied.

Thank you for emptying this vessel.

Thank you for calling, choosing and justifying this leader in the making.

Take a gentle look at your life for a moment. Who have you been lately?

All’s love,

Seeing

An unexpected, unsolicited challenge was thrust upon me a few weeks ago

The skinny: to develop the leader within me

As the pride-caused shock wore of, I warmed up to the idea of changing my rhythm

To accept the tempo of wonder, of self-assessment, of growth, of preparation

Preparation to touch the lives of others

By positively influencing just as He did

Isn’t that what the Father did, He the best Influencer?

The way of the Upside Down kingdom: starting from the bottom up

A great leader starts from the bottom up.

Am I so willing to start low, forsake pride and seek the betterment of others?

Will I repent of my desire to be seen, to be admired, to be appreciated, to be recognized and praised?

By the world, by YOU?

Will I allow Christ Jesus, my Carpenter, to nail each piece of wood to build up, build me up into a leader after his own heart?

A leader who has what it takes to better mankind.

Better her country, her province, her city, her neighborhood, her family, herself.

Better because of HIM.

As I embark on this summer adventure, may the One with the perspective of eternity help me to see.

A little warning: this will not be a step-by-step improvement plan

It will be a candid journey to deeper waters

To digging deeper in order to see clearer

Will you embark on this leadership journey with me? Do you see a leader in yourself this week?

In Spite of Me

Hey you! Yes you, you.

The you who is reading this.

I apologize if you’ve been waiting for me to write.

Not only write but take a step of faith.

A step I’ve failed to take.

To take & share of myself

To learn from you these past few days.

Life was rushing by hectically & I fell in step with it.

I followed the fast pace & left you behind.

Left ME behind.

I created this blog to let God bring me to a spacious place.

As I empty myself to be filled with the things of Him.

I might fall short some days. I will follow short sometimes.

But the good news is that YOU and I are both

CONFIDENTLY UNDERGRACE

I am picking up the pieces of my baby blog again.

Let’s do life together. Honestly Share. Laugh. Cry. Scream.

OVER white hot chocolate or spicy hot wings!

I will be starting a series on leadership next week.

Make sure to drop by & introduce yourself.

All’s love

Strength

To face the world

To choose you; always saying Yes Yahweh

To live in the NOW & true moments

To do what matters

To choose gratitude – putting my circumstances in context

To allow you to break me in order to re-make me

To be re-made into the best version of me – YOUR version

To be content in this season of life – a season of slow preparation

To expect harvest – a harvest of beauty

To embrace

To speak words from the root places; deep places

To write the things of the Spirit

Strength to be real

Your perfect strength in my frail humanity

What do you need strength with today?