Nagasaki, Japan

So I'm on vacation, thus far it's not feeling like a vacation yet so I am REALLY, desperately trying to relax my mind....

Anyways, I am loving Japan. I am in Sasebo visiting and that is where the navy base is located which is nice because many people know a little bit of English here.

View of Sasebo from atop the mountain 

I have had some cool experiences but I am really loving to explore the areas around town.
My favorite locale so far was Nagasaki where we went to see the atom bomb museum,

A to scale replica of the actual bomb

The inside of the to scale replica of the bomb

These glasses really hit home for me. When you see an article that actually belonged to someone you feel the gravity of the death of these people. 

Extremely sad... :(

In these wooden steps from an elementary school you can see shrapnel and LARGE shattered glass fragments that were deeply embedded by the explosion. If there were any children outside they would have most certainly been struck by these items.

Flying Cranes of peace

Statue representing a mother holding her dead child, 70% of all victims were women, children and the elderly. 

The crater in which the bomb made, any humans nearby were immediately vaporized. 

All in all, it was great to learn about and of course very sad. This land is very beautiful.

ALL pictures on this post are mine.

#Ferguson

My personal Ferguson rant:

I am REALLLLLLY tired of people grouping and labeling others its so annoying. Everyone knows by now that I don't like to be addressed first and foremost as a "black woman". ((I'm not opposed to the term black but I am opposed to firstly describing people by their skinshade)) Yes I am black but I hate that it is the first label applied to me. If you are going to label me how about friend, teacher, woman, christian etc. those can come first.

I have a name, its Meghan. The amount of melanin in my skin happens to produce a chocolate shade, yours may be cream colored, peach, deep brown, olive, WHATEVER. We are all literally the same, aside from the amount of melanin we produce. With that being said, I am not naive enough to know that groups of people do share cultural similarities and that racism is still very much alive all over the world and certainly here in the states but DANG can we stop the division!!! Celebrate people! No one should be treating anyone any different because of their skin. How difficult is this concept? It is something I have had to deal with my entire life, listening to ignorant commentary, ignorant questions, a "harmless joke" here and there...I have zero tolerance for it now and I am QUICK to check folks regarding this topic. l will not allow you to make me feel ANY different from you because of skin.

I have not commented on Ferguson because I always like to wait until more things come to the light but I will say that these topics always show me people's TRUE COLORS and that goes for everyone... Seeing comments and statuses that say "The blacks" or the "the whites" or even "the cops all" is so ignorant. If you honestly believe that an entire "group" of people believes or behaves a certain way shame on you. I want to live in a world that is label free and stereotype free, Facebook included... ‪#‎endrant

A Weekend in Santa Monica

Today's Post will be a photoblog

In Santa Monica overlooking PCH

The Pier

Me on the Pier :) 

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Me on the beach, selfies :)

More than Manna

      So lately I've been doing this thing where 2-3x a week I read my bible for a longer period of time and sit with God about whatever I read. It tends to take me about 1-2 hrs to accomplish. Now, I do read daily and I usually get some small piece of knowledge/wisdom to take with me but I have been asking God for more. I want more, I want more knowledge, I want more revelation, I just want more of God. Anyways, he is taking me through the bible in this manner and it has been AWESOME to say the least.

So I'm in numbers right now and the Israelites are in the thick of the wilderness process and they have been traveling for some months coming out of Egypt. As expected they have grown restless, tired and hungry, so they cry out to God. He hears them and provides them manna. Now.... I ALREADY see a problem... I would be like "God, I cant eat this everyday!" And that's exactly what happened, they began to think of the food they ate while they were in slavery, and they began complaining. I can understand it though. Though it's not the best attitude to have, but who wants to eat manna flakes day in and day out for God knows how long? So they cry out again and God's not too happy with them this time so he says, "Okay, Ill give you meat and manna. I'll give you so much meat that you will get sick of it and won't want anymore" (My paraphase) And that's what he does, he sends quail. They get sick... and the cycle continues. They complain and complain, but their complaints seem legitimate to me, well maybe not legitimate but they don't seem terribly unreasonable, for the FLESH.

See our flesh is easily swayed, but we know that though. So I asked God this question... "If you delivered them from slavery, why was the wilderness so sucky too? Why did you make them cry out to you for food, why didn't you just provide that asap?  Why did you make them do that?" The answer I got form God was so profound....

He said, "If I made it even slightly comfortable for them or better than slavery they would have been content. They would have stayed right there in the wilderness. The point is that there was a promised land that they needed to get to. They had to keep going, eventually they will get to Glory but in the meantime they can't be comfortable enough to stop..."

Birthday/Holy Week

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY TO ME!

It's my real 25th. This year means alot to me.

When I was a young child, 25 was the fantasy age. I used to imagine myself at the age of 25 living a good life. A life much better than the one I was currently in. I grew up depressed and with VERY VERY VERY low self esteem. I wanted out of my life so badly that at times I contemplated suicide. Most people couldn't see that because on the outside I was happy, loud,. jovial Meghan. At the age of 25, I imagined myself with a house, a few cars, a perfect highly paying job, great friends, like 10 boyfriends, a fish named Chester and and I would be beautiful. STUNNINGLY, stopping people in the street beautiful... Then my doubt creeped in and I would see a 25 year old version of myself as still depressed, sad, alone, horrendously unattractive and desperate and dependent. What a life...

Neither of these versions are what my life looks like at the moment, but that is because I serve a God who does exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) MY  LIFE IS GREATER than I could have imagined! I don't have a perfect high paying job, I don't have my own place, I drive a used Nissan Versa... but I do have GOD! I have friends (I call them brothers and sisters) my relationships have gotten better. I am on the path to purpose, I hear God clearly, I have a deeper relationship with God and I'm HAPPY. I'm really happy!

Here are some pics...

My birthday started with being able to compose and deliver a lecture about Child Abuse (my passion).

My Favorite picture of the whole day

Shrimp Scampi and Mashed Potatoes and Strip Steak at the Cheesecake Factory 

Yes GOD!

Birthday Blue :) 

My friend said something crazy, and she got the signature Meghan stank face...

Wished for greatness..

More to come soon

Skin

I have spoken on this before, but the past 15 days or so have afforded me the opportunity to educate people because I have heard some of the most ignorant, offensive and just plain nonsensical racially motivated remarks ever. (Racism, colorism, prejudice, stereotypes etc. are all tricks of the devil! There is no difference of people, we're all made by THE SAME God) I truly thought that by this age I would be done hearing these things (for the most part I am) and I CERTAINLY thought adults wouldn't open their mouths to say such. I honestly did not think people held these beliefs in their minds and hearts...

If you ever THINK you know what type of music I like, food I eat, schools I attended, sources of income, churches I attended, family life I had, places I went, area I grew up in, clothing I like to purchase, styles I wear my hair in, who I voted for (really? this is none of your business), products I use, causes I believe in, people I identify with etc... based of the brown tone of my skin, you are absolutely out of your mind. How dare you think these things, much less express that.

DO NOT assume I know every rap song that comes on the radio because I don't, do not ask me if my hair is weave, do not ask me "how wild my black churches" have been, do not assume my parents were never married. DO NOT create a difference between me and you.

Yes I can use the same hair gel as you, its freaking gel. Yes I can swim (I just hate being outside so you are not gonna see me doing it). Yes I listen to all types of music. Yes I wear sunscreen, I don't like skin cancer.

My heart pumps red blood like yours. I breathe with a set of lungs God gave me like he gave you. I have feelings, just like you do.  I am a PERSON, a human being with thoughts, strengths, faults, feelings and emotions. Aren't we all?

I'm passionate about this because most of you know that my dream is to have ALL people treated the same. I try to live this out daily by treating people well and apologizing when I don't. I am certainly not perfect, as none of us are but I WOULD hate for my future children to grow up hearing the commentary that I hear. We are all the same and everyone wants respect. Lets give it....

M

Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!

I had a friend who called me recently on the brink of suicide. I got her permission to tell use her story... She called me very late at night to tell me that this was it. This was going to be her last night on earth. I could hear the fear and the hopelessness in her voice. She said she didn't really want to do it, but she wanted to at the same time. My friend had endured abuse of every kind and she called me as a last resort, she didn't know where to turn. She said Meghan I don't know what to do, will you pray. So of course I did, right then and there and have continued to ever since. But today at church a verse really stood out to me:

New Living Translation

 But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!" Acts 16:28

The context of this verse is that Paul was beaten severely and jailed and when he started praising God an earthquake happened and caused a release of himself and all the other prisoners from the chains that were binding them. (All my spiritual folks will get the double meaning on that one! :) Yes Lord!) Suddenly all of the prisoners were free! Now most of these guys sans Paul and Silas were not innocent, they really committed crimes, but now they were free. (Isn't this the heart of Jesus at work?!)

 So the guy who was supposed to be watching the prisoners runs in and sees that they are all free. He believes now that he will be in DEEP trouble because all of these guys are loose. In his mind there is no hope. He is in the deeps of a situation that he won't be able to explain away, so he draws his sword to take his life. He was hopeless so he turned to suicide like so many of us do. Paul sees this and says "STOP! Don't kill yourself we are all here!"

Isn't this true for us all? See, the jailer couldn't see the men, all he saw was the chains... The empty chains equaled death for him. AND YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR ENTIRE FUTURE!! Sometimes we think the chains are for us, and you may feel like death is the way. BUT STOP!  "We are all here!"

There are always people around you that are here for you, even if you can't see them. For those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please don't think you are alone! There are humans beings who care for you right now, and if you truly don't think that then please know that there are ARMIES of angels around you. You always have an angel around you and when you think you need more, ask God for more. It's as simple as "God I believe in you but I feel hopeless right now. I don't know which way to turn so I'm turning to you. Please help me with these negative and suicidal thoughts. I know you created me for a purpose, to live and not die. Please help me to see this purpose. Amen". Say whatever you need to say but don't make a permanent decision. I am here, God is here, professionals are here to help you. Contact whoever you need to but don't harm/kill yourself. You are worth more than diamonds.

#nosuicide

- Meghan

P.S. I found these photos on angelic_ones instagram, please follow them, their posts are awesome!

Confidence from God

Growing up I struggled with insecurity and VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, (I cannot stress that enough) low confidence. My confidence was so negative, it was scary. Because of that I acted out in many ways that I wish I wouldn’t have. Thank God I didn’t make any permanent choices, but I was contemplating them. I still have days where my self-confidence gets a little shaken but it is NOTHING compared to the way I used to feel. The change is SOLEY because of God. The more I began to read my bible the truth finally dawned on me and I realized that I was believing a lie and the lie was that I was not beautiful or important.  I could see the damage that this lie had done in every area of my life and I asked God to help me repair it. Now, it took some time, and it was not an overnight change. The biggest key to this all was that I had to have renewal of my mind. I began to intentionally focus on bible verses that spoke about how God created us ALL individually for a purpose and with a great destiny over our lives. My favorite is Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (NIV). Another is Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV).

Another thing God had me do to build my confidence is something I would like to share with you. Rather than focus on outer beauty he had me focus on my inner beauty which was really a strange feeling. He asked me “Meghan, what makes you attractive?” I was very uncomfortable with the question because I didn’t view myself as beautiful and certainly not attractive… so I sat there….. and he said “WRITE” and this came out.

What makes me attractive?
□ God- you being inside of me naturally draws people to me, because they want you
□ Prayer- I can pray for everyone and I know God will strengthen them
□ Kindness- People want to be around kind people because they know they will have a low chance of      being hurt or if they do get hurt the person will apologize.
□ Genuineness- being real and honest with people. I don’t have to have all the right words or answers to    give to people, but I don’t have to pretend or be fake. I am allowed to be honest and truthful without being mean or shady. I can trust that God will cover my truth or in some instances I can just say nothing at all and rest in the fact that I have God. He is ALWAYS the truth.
□ Happiness- I have God and that makes me happy, I know that I am NEVER alone. I know that I am always taken care of.


Even as I read it now, it blows my mind that this came out of me, and my pen. It is from God and it makes me feel good. On days when I’m not as kind, or as genuine or I don’t feel full to the brim with God, I can rest in the fact in this is how he sees me. I can remind myself of this. My confidence doesn’t lie in my looks, or anything of my own doing. Instead it is in every beautiful thing he has poured into me.

Sincerely,
Meghan

God has created you for his HIGHEST purpose

Since discovering this truth for myself my life has changed for the greater. God created YOU intentionally, he is not just making people to fill up the earth. We know its quite full already :). He created you with intention to do something for him. He purposed your smile, your wit, your personality, your talents and skills all to be useful to him in some way. Maybe you are a quiet person who likes to cook and paint, guess what God can use you and those talents for his glory. In Jeremiah God says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart". Before God sent you here to earth he knew you and he knew what he wanted to do with you. YOU have a purpose.  ASK HIM

Every year I start reading my bible over again and Genesis is my favorite book of the bible for some many reasons, but I like to give chapter breakdowns of my thoughts on each chapter as I read it. 

In Genesis chapter 1: There is creation. God created EVERYTHING out of nothing, both the heavens and the earth.

Genesis chapter 2: Man and Woman- God gave the commandment to the man 1st before woman was created. Then God says it is not good for man to be alone so he creates all of the animals and lets Adam name them. No suitable companion was found for him there so the Lord caused him to go into a deep sleep     Then he took a part of his side and closed the side up with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the part of the side.      **Woman is the only being not being crafted from dirt. We are created from creation, that's kind of beautiful. Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh** "

Houston Beauty Guide!

Have you guys seen this super cool website? If you live in Houston please check it out!!

http://www.thehoustonbeautyguide.com/

Its a website that offers beauty guides, information and even free giveaways. :)

What a year...

First off let me say that I cannot believe that I have not posted since August but I also can believe that. I have been in a child life internship and it has kept me BUSY. I have no time or anything else. Its sad and exciting at the same time.

Anyways this year has been fabulous! I cant wait to wrap it up and start anew in 2014.

Meghan

Joel and Victoria's Blog

The Right People
Posted by Joel Osteen on 8/16/2013


Back in 1949, there was a young minister you may have heard of by the name of Billy Graham. He was traveling the country, holding meetings in large auditoriums. He was having success, but he wasn't really nationally known at the time.

That summer, he conducted a meeting in Los Angeles in a big tent. A gentleman showed up by the name of William Randolph Hearst. Mr. Hearst owned newspapers all across the country. He was so touched that night that he sent a message to all of his publishers to write favorable articles about Billy Graham. The next week, the whole country was talking about this young minister. He came to national prominence practically overnight because of the influence of one man.

What was that? I call it a divine shift. It was God taking him further, faster. It could have taken Billy Graham his whole lifetime to gain that kind of respect and credibility, but God used one man to show him favor and opened doors that took Billy Graham to a new level.

Now, the good news is that God has already lined up the right people for you. They are already in your future. It's just a matter of time before they show up. They will open doors that you could not open. They will show you favor even though you didn't ask. They will use their influence to make you look good. They're ordained by God to accelerate His plan for your life.

What's interesting is that Billy Graham didn't search this man out; he searched Billy Graham out. You don't have to go and try to find the right people. You just honor God, and the right people will find you. They'll pick you out of a crowd. They'll knock on your door. They'll show up at your office. For some reason, they will want to be good to you. That's a divine connection. God will cause them to use their expertise, even their funds, to take you further, faster. You'll accomplish more in less time. You'll be promoted beyond your education. You'll increase beyond your experience. The right people will help you go where you could not go on your own.

Today, know that God has ordained the right people to be in your life. It's not about you working hard to get their attention. It's about your obedience to do what God has told you to do. If you will focus on hearing His voice and doing what He says, then everything else will fall into place. He'll bring the right people into your life so that you can move forward in the destiny He has prepared for you!

"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Prayer I found on Youversion

What I'm doing is obviously not working--God, help me to get out of the way and just allow YOU to help me the way YOU want to! I still struggle to be the man YOU made me to be! Lord, I need you to help me become the man YOU made me to be. Help me get rid of the stuff in me that's not of YOU....help me budget my finances to serve your will. Help me cleanse my heart and mind of the pain of past hurts and offenses. Life and death is in the power of the tongue...Lord, let me guard every word more carefully so I do not say or do anything that does not glorify YOU. I have generational curse on me to be depressed/addicted to pornography, physically in pain, epileptic, and emotional.... and I'm praying God that you will release me from this bondage. Joshua 1:8; Matthew 5:44--Meditate and the DO the word of God...I need to be spiritual "cow" (constantly bringing Word of God to mind and "chewing" on it)....this is the only way I'm going to truly become what God wants me to be.

This is a great prayer!

Have a fabulous week

Proverbs 25:28

"A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls." Proverbs 25:28

A city with broken down walls is subject for a takeover, it is vulnerable, something is missing. The infrastructure is broken, and people can spot that from the outside. Anyone can come on in and do what they want to.

Don't be a city waiting for siege, don't allow folks to come in and do whatever they want because you are lacking self-control. Ask God to come help you gain self-control and then put it to practice as OFTEN as possible. Sometimes you cant have the last word, sometimes you cant be petty right back to a rude person, sometimes you gotta walk away. The only person you can control is you. ‪#‎wereallstilllearning‬

Your heart...

Proverbs 27:19 "As in water the face is reflected as a face, so a person's heart reflects the person"

Your heart is YOU. It leads everything, what does your heart say about you. Everyday I run into people who deceive, lie to and cheat each other. I just can't bring myself to do it. Is it because I'm self righteous and perfect? HECKKKK NO, but because I have been doing heart work for a few years now. I always want peoples' experience of me to be authentic and really reflect who I am. Yeah we all have times when our attitude is stinky or we are just having a rough go but guess what... Your heart is attached to your head, and your mouth so what flows out of you reflects your insides ALWAYS. Time for a clean out.

WOWJAM

So yesterday I went to volunteer at a WOWJAM for those of who don’t know, it is a large city wide event that is free to the General public. It is hosted by Stephen and Linda Tavani (Linda is Peaches from Peaches & Herb J ) and they throw a huge party with resources and events for families. Most families that come are from a low socioeconomic background. The whole purpose of the event though is to show the LOVE of CHRIST and give them free stuff like bikes, groceries etc.!

Though I went to help and volunteer, I was shocked at how much it ministered to me. Can I be real for a minute here...I once was a person who was depressed and even suicidal in my teenage years. We’re not talking those 1st world problems here, we are talking real issues. At one point my life was so low that I contemplated and made real plans on how to end it. I had heard some kids talking in church one day about if you go to hell for committing suicide so I eavesdropped, and there seemed to be no consensus about the answer. That worried me; I didn't want to spend eternity in Hell, and the uncertainty of it all made me pause. So in efforts to avoid Hell, I thought twice about going through with and thought I would endure hell on earth a little while longer. I remained depressed until a few years ago and I finally began to come out of the darkness with the help of self- assessments, therapists and God of course. Anyways, I say this because that seemed to be a major issue with people yesterday at the WOWJAM. There were many families who responded to the altar call and I could see pain dripping off of people.

Jambalaya Lunch for the crowd

There were young people crying, mothers crying and children yearning for God. Then they pulled a young man on stage, probably 12 years old and he was bawling and shaking and I think everyone took a deep breath in when they saw him. This young man looked like he had been through some deep emotional hurt. So I cried. I remembered my days in what I considered an emotional hole I couldn't get out of…So many feelings of shame, hurt, betrayal and pure confusion…


God is not the author of any of that. Through him ALONE I became free. It took some effort on my part though. I had to read to see what this bible was really about. I started with a kid’s bible and then I went online to get further explanations about parts I didn’t understand and I read MANY Christian blogs and my life changed within a matter of 2 months. I started to understand how God really feels about me, and that what I wanted to impart to every soul I met yesterday at the WOWJAM. What a glorious experience and what a Glorious God I serve. Praise his name!













Wednesday is Skid Row WOWJAM
Saturday is South Central J

Lessons from Saul

Lets read and take this step by step... We are in 1st Samuel chapter 9

1There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin... 2His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. 

I'm assuming this is what Saul looked like with his fine self...

3One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country ... but they couldn’t find the donkeys anywhere. 

5Finally...Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!” 

6But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”



So some would think that Saul's height and good looks would qualify him to be a king but let's look at his insides... So far we know nothing about the fact that he was a godly man but we do see that he was obedient and honorable to his earthly father and he exhausted his options in looking for the donkeys before he wanted to turn back. Also his servant is the one who suggests they go to a man of GOD to receive more guidance in finding the donkeys. Sometimes the help you receive is from people you may not expect it from and also in ways you wont expect it. Let's continue....



“But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”
8“Well,” the servant said, “I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!” ... 
“All right,” Saul agreed, “let’s try it!” So they started into the town where the man of God lived.... 
14So they entered the town, and as they passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of worship. 



So now they are by chance going up this road to meet and man of God named Samuel...

15Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day,16“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked down on my people in mercy and have heard their cry.”
17When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “That’s the man I told you about! He will rule my people.” 
18Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 

19“I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. 20And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”


Wow so Samuel hits Saul with a whopper at the end of that one...Saul came up out of obscurity, yes he was handsome and tall. He was obedient to his father and this ended up leading him on a path to become KING. He was certainly no perfect king but he never took the time to get his heart all the way right and turned to God....


Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”

22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.

                                 

It's been a while...

Wow it has been way tooo long for me to not write! GOD has been so good to me over the last few weeks life has been amazing, but I feel as though I lost some of my juice because I haven't been writing as much as I was supposed to.

Anyways here is some Joyce Meyer for you...

Thoughts and Words Are Intimately Connected

Proverbs 16:23-24 shows us that our thoughts and words are intimately connected. They are like bone and marrow, so close, it is hard to divide them (see Hebrews 4:12). Because of this, it's important that we have pleasant thoughts so we can also have pleasant words.

Our thoughts are silent words that only we and the Lord hear, but those words affect our inner man, our health, our joy and our attitude. The things we think about often come out of our mouths and sometimes make us look foolish, but if we live God's way, our thoughts and words can make our lives more enjoyable.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can let your thought life run in any worldly direction and then 'fake it' by speaking godly words. Either both are pleasing or both are negative and sinful. There is no middle ground.

Begin to operate in the mind of Christ, and you will step into a whole new realm of living. As you spend time letting Him adjust your thinking, you won't have to think about speaking pleasant words. It will just happen naturally!

Prayer Starter: God, I realize that my thoughts and words are connected. I don't want to try and 'fake' on the outside what isn't real inside. Please adjust my thoughts so that I can speak pleasant, godly words.

CAKE TONGS!

Super cute!

"Who am I?" Posts

*Hello Readers*,

      SO the Lord has put on my heart to do some “Who am I’s” occasionally. I'm not sure if anyone else does these or thinks of these. I would like to think it is Me and God's novel idea but he could be talking to other women about it too :) What he explained to me is that I must write a list of Who am I characteristics and then to pick a few and write more in depth about them. This ALONE has been LIFE SHAKING! It is encouraging me to really look at the corners and recesses of my life about who I am, where I am going and who I want to be. I just freeflow and write who am I? …

       This lists includes things I would like to be in the future because I once heard a great quote… “Who you are going to be, you are becoming now” meaning you are not going to just wake up an honest person one day if you are lying right now, you are not going to wake up a skinny chick if you are eating the entire sleeve of Oreos right now (working on this one :)… and so on. Whatever you are practicing now, you will likely become, somewhere there has to be a mental shift and we all know we are transformed by the renewing of our minds…

Who am I? 4/6/13

-          A wife, a mother, a lover of all people, a kind mother, a generous person, a loving individual, unwavering in my belief in Christ, a prayer warrior, a bible reading woman, a woman who follows what the Lord tells her to do, an honest woman, a kind woman, a reading woman, an honorable woman, a nonjudgmental woman, a woman who speaks up for herself, a thoughtful woman, a woman, a confident woman, a daughter of the most high, God’s princess, God’s daughter.

• þ  A non-judgmental person – This does not mean that I condone my own sin or the sin of others, it just means that I do not judge. The bible says judge not lest you be judged. I do not condemn others, I realize that we all have fallen short of the glory of the Lord. I give others grace and I smile. I do not crucify others, I let them live their lives in what I hope is peace and speak up only when God’s tells me to. 

• þ  A woman who speaks up for herself- She thinks carefully and does not let people run all over her without speaking the truth. She speaks the truth to negate the lies. She doesn’t make up or conjure external lies to prove a point or add to her “stories”. She is respectful even when she is not being respected. Her accountability is to God and God alone. She honors the Lord in all she does including her appearance, her words, her actions, her thoughts, and her descriptions. She speaks life and truth even to herself. She does not allow her inner tape to play unless it is in agreement with the word of God.
  
  
• þ  A confident woman- She is NOT prideful. She is NOT prideful. She is NOT prideful. She is NOT prideful. She is NOT prideful. She is NOT prideful. She is NOT prideful. (I repeated that because it is easy to fall into, but NOT up in here devil!) 
  She understands that she is a WOMAN. She is beautiful, she is important, she is valuable to the kingdom, she understands her value, she understands her call, she will do anything to protect that value, she understands the importance of being in communion with God, she knows that all good things come from the Lord. And he has chosen her.
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  She knows that her beauty is on the inside and this is what people will be most attracted to. She knows that God has a plan for her. She knows that the Holy Spirit lives inside of her and reveals the plans of God on her heart and helps protect her from the plans of the enemy. She takes no pride in anything for she knows it all comes from God. She is God’s and he is hers.