Shedding skin

All of us have done things we are not proud of. All of us have been or currently are a version of ourselves that we don't like. Shame is a part of being human, we all fall short. 6 months ago I was in a very dark place. But just today I was thinking, "I like who I am." Getting to a place where I can say that has taken a lot of wars won by truth and a decision to let God win. Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."  Repentence is such a gift. It is refreshing. It's like a snake shedding its skin, becoming new. I'm sure snakes never look back on the skin they sloughed off and say, "I want to carry my dead skin around with me." No they leave it behind and shine with newness. So should you!! We are taken from glory, to glory, to glory, with every yes we say to God. Yes, I will face my fears. Yes, I will obey you! Every time we say yes, and repent of an unsavory mindset, or lifestyle, or attitude, we sluff off the grime and filth and "dead skin", and we get shinier and newer. And we then become a version of ourselves that we like very much!!! Shine on!!

Just believe

I think sometimes when we are waiting for something to happen in our lives, it is easy to get caught up in, am I doing enough? I love the verse John 6:29 ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” The context of this verse is that Jesus had just fed the 5,000 the miracle bread and they were coming to ask for more. So He tells them to work for eternal bread, instead of bread that goes moldy. They then ask, "how can we do the work for eternal bread?" and He says,  “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”  This strikes me deeply. Often times, with having a physical disability, I can struggle with feeling like I'm not "doing" enough, or "working" enough. But if the work of God is to believe, I can do that. Anyone can do that!!! Believing in Jesus Christ is the wind in our sails to DO great things.

Be still

In life we all have a choice, either to move forward or to stay comfortable.  I have realized, simply by watching others live their lives, that some people breath air, but never really live.  This "life death" can come in 2 forms. One, a person just lives out their daily routine; goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, watches TV and goes to bed. Then one day that wake up in the latter part of their life and realize they never really lived. The second kind of "life death" happens when a person does not love themselves, so they run after approval from others.  They never really sit still long enough to take life in, for fear that their own thoughts will catch up with them and they will lose the rat race for approval. I tend to struggle with the 2nd kind of death, but I am learning more than ever how to really live. I love to skateboard at the waterfront. I sit on the skateboard and push with my left small foot. When I was younger I was so antsy and self consumed that I could not sit still. But through trials in my life; dealing with the stresses of living life as a single woman with a disability with a great drive for life, I have learned the importance of sitting still and just being.  So I go to the park, the waterfront or my room and just read, breath, take in the beauty of life. That is where there is true peace. While I was at the waterfront tonight, I watched fish jump out of the water to catch bugs. I realized that the fish who jump the most, catch the most bugs. I want to jump and jump and jump and catch the most bugs/ opportunities in life. I hope you will too!  Truely living comes through a balance of doing and being.

Offerings

I am entering a season of transition, which I feel happens every Fall. Everything changes! Summer is my favorite time of year. I wish it would never end, but inevitably it will.  As will the seasons of my life which transition into new seasons.  I have very little to complain about. I have a beautiful home and a lovely roommate, a church family, and dear friends. But I struggle with anxiety and change surfaces it. I'm sure many of you can relate.  Right now I can't sleep, it eludes me because I have so much on my mind.  This next step in  life is huge. I am planning on marketing my Motivational Speaking business, SHIFT, and getting a modified van, coming up very soon. These are dreams I have had since middle school, and they are coming true. But not with out a cost. I love the verse at the very end of 1st Samuel. David says of his burnt offering. "I will pay for my burnt offering, for I will not give an offering to the Lord that cost me nothing."  Exactly. Every offering of our life to God has a cost. But it is so worth it!!