Blessed

Today is my mother's 70th birthday. Despite everything my mother has endured, she is here. Life is a gift that is meant to be celebrated daily. It's easy to get distracted by headlines and hashtags. It's easy to take life for granted. It's easy to forget the daily blessings God continues to provide.  If you woke up this morning, you're blessed. If you have clothes on your back and food to eat, you're blessed. If you have a roof over your head, you're blessed. If you have a job and money in your pocket, you're blessed. If you have a degree of health, you're blessed. Be blessed and know that today is a blessing. 

Be Amazing

What was in God's mind when he created you? What words did He speak to create you? When you look in the mirror do you speak the words to yourself? Do you call yourself wonderful? Do you call yourself a prophet to the nations? See yourself the way God intended. Be beautiful. Be creative. Be amazing. 

 Jeremiah 1:5(NIV) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

God is Able

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I'm at the place in my life where I have experienced "above all I can think or ask." I have learned to pray big prayers. I have an expectation built on big faith. I have experienced God's love in the valley. I have felt his comfort in seasons of loneliness, and I've learned that God is still in control and more importantly, God is able. My life, my dreams, my aspirations are nothing without God's ability. It is not through my strength, but His. It is not through my power, but His. Trust that God can do the exceedingly abundant in your life. God is able.

Appointed Time

Three years ago, I wrote a check to business. I put the picture of that check in my closet. Everyday I got dressed, I saw that check. Everyday, I was working towards receiving that check. Today, I received a check in the exact same amount written to my business. I have vision boards filled with things that have not come to pass yet. I have vision boards filled with things that have come to pass. Our timing is not God's timing. We just have to write the vision, and trust that God will do the rest. Work the vision. Trust the vision. It will come to pass at the appointed time. 

Righteous

The government has been partially shut down for thirty- four days and counting. The effects of this shutdown will have residual shockwaves for years to come. People are being forced into free labor. Hard decisions are being made while bills continue to mount up. There are glimmers of hope and humanity popping up through sponsored meals and food drives, but our government has to do better. My faith says, “ God is in control.” My heart says, “Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Sometimes, we have to remind ourselves that no matter what it looks like, we are not forsaken.

Reflection

My friends and I call it mirror work. It's when you take a good hard look at you. It's when you take the time to try to see yourself the way others see you. Are you as kind as you think you are? Are you as helpful as you think you are? Are you really a good person? What do you need to work on? What areas of your life need improvement? Who is the person staring back at you? Do you recognize your own reflection? Don't be scared. Do the work.

Redemption

What does the road to redemption look like? Does it start with regret? Maybe forgiveness? Is it motivated by a change of heart? Redemption looks like salvation. It's the light at the end of a tunnel. It's the realization that you were created for something more. It's the letter from a Birmingham jail. It's the moment you recognize your purpose. It's when you make up your mind to be different. It's when you actually do better. What does redemption look to you? The road to redemption is filled with self-reflection.

 "Maybe I was too optimistic. Maybe I expected too much." -Martin Luther King Jr.