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Capture Each Thought

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Capture Each Thought

October 4, 2019

We were sitting in a local coffee shop that morning. She was pouring her heart out about how she felt…the thoughts she kept coming back to. As I listened to her ache, an image appeared before me.

“See those berries,” I said. “Imagine each of them are the thoughts bunched up in your mind. Now, grab the one you just described to me, the one where you weren’t sure. The one where you questioned whether or not you were good enough. That one. Pluck it off the branch and let’s see how it aligns with His Word. If it doesn’t, then toss it aside because it is no good.”

This is an active daily process we must do, if we want to be REAL with ourselves.

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b NIV).

So often our thoughts run away from us. Unknowingly, we allow the devil in through the backdoor of our brains, and he plants his seeds of doubt. His lies begin to spring up, like weeds, as they quickly cover our fertile ground. The devil is crafty and cloaks his lies so they appear true. This is why we must earnestly capture each thought, examine it, and line it up with God’s truth.

You absolutely can control what thoughts you allow residency. We are what we think. And you, my friend, are royalty, a priceless heir to His throne, His creative masterpiece, who’s worthy of His love. Let’s hold onto these truths, grant them access to flourish, shape who we are and how we treat others.

Praise

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Praise

A year ago, I could not have done this: stand unassisted, loudly singing praises unto Him. For reasons I will never understand this side of Heaven, in less than twenty-four hours, I went from “doing all the things,” including running several miles a day, to suddenly not being able to hold up my own body weight, walk, or audibly talk. When I say this, most people’s reaction is, “Oh my word, what did you have?” It’s not the diagnosis I wish to share, rather the journey. His grace and mercy. His miracles. His goodness.

My days were filled with uncertainty, yet He was my constant. Eleven months of essentially relearning how to do all that comes so naturally to us, was unfathomable. Yet, this is what I did. And it is with absolute certainty, only through His “by design” intervention, that I am here writing this today.

I spent a week in the hospital, waiting for a diagnosis.

It took a month of waiting and three different neurologist before receiving a “one in a million” diagnosis.

Months of speech therapy and many more of physical therapy before I was able to function on a somewhat “normal” basis.

I waited. Daily, I sought Him. I prayed, “Lord, heal me whole.”

If you are in a season where nothing is going right, or according to what you’d planned, you are in a waiting period, my friend. I’ve been there, and it sucks. We want to hurry up, move on, get back on track. We want to grab the reins of our lives and forcefully maneuver it to our desired course. We certainly don’t want to wait. But what if you are in this “waiting period” because there’s something more? What if someone is waiting to show you a better path? One that you couldn’t have even imagined?

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help” (Isaiah 30:18 NLT).

In my wait, I started praising Him. I chose to believe He had something better for me. I knew He would heal me whole. I didn’t know how or when, but I leaned into His promises of making all things good.

And now, one year later, here I am. Writing, which is something I never fathomed. Sharing, which is outside of my comfort zone. Praising, which is all I can do. Because, my friends, He patiently waited for me. For which, I am immeasurably blessed.

Strength

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October 1, 2019

Strength: the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure. 

There are numerous types of strength. Physical strength. Mental strength. Emotional strength. Courageous strength. Strength assessments. Strength in numbers. Strength of Faith. 

Strength’s antonym is weakness. Instead of having the capacity to withstand great pressure, when you are weak, you are simply overcome by it. The tremendous force applied “takes over,” often with a crippling blow. While we are differently strong, there’s one common weakness-denominator that has the capacity to completely negate any strength we possess: doubt. 

Doubt is terrifyingly powerful. It has water-like qualities, finding its way into the cracks. It forcefully tears down and uproots any strength stability we’ve developed within our lives. Doubt is evil. Period. 

We, however, have the ability to harness infinite strength through our faith:

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29 NIV).  

“In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don’t know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays through groans too deep for words” (Romans 8:26 NIRV).

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).

You ARE strong, my friend, because He is strong. Stronger than you realize. Ready to intercede. Willing to shoulder the weight. Question is, are you strong enough to relinquish your weakness unto Him, so He can to do the heavy-lifting for you? #LetsGetREALTogether #Faith #Strength #Inspiration #TuesdayMotivation

Know Me

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Know Me

September 30, 2019

Do you know me? I mean, really know me? No, of course you don’t. How could you possibly know me, if I don’t share my story? But who wants to hear my story? While we may want to be known, and loved where we are, so few of us are willing to share our story. We are afraid of peeling back the mask we apply daily, revealing our true selves, and all the layers that have brought us up to this point today. However, it is only through this process, allowing ourselves to been seen in all our glory, that makes us “known.” Makes us “seen.” Makes us part of a community.

That’s what this is all about: community. We are wired for it. We crave it. We are predestined to cultivate it. And yet, it is the very thing we fight. We believe we must have it “all together” in order to be accepted. We think we have nothing to share unless “all our ducks are in a row.” We buy into the lie that we are worthless. Therefore, in our unworthiness, how could we ever be “known” and accepted into a place of community?

My friend, if any of this rings true for you, then you are in the right place!

Let’s Get REAL Together is about our collective stories.

Let’s Get REAL Together is a place for sharing.

Let’s Get REAL Together is a community.

It starts with a simple truth: we were created in God’s image. This fact more than qualifies you as worthy! It counts you as royalty! We each have a unique portion of Him within us. When we gather together , share with each other, comfort one another, and ground ourselves in His truths, then we are brought to a beautiful place of REAL community…a collective family, who sees His goodness residing within each of our human skin. A purposefully created piece, unlike any other. Someone whose value is immeasurable. A treasured gift, waiting to be revealed.

My prayer is you will allow yourself to be known because of His greatness within you. You will accept His calling for you because you are on purpose. You will join us as we seek to align our lives with His truths. #LetsGetREALTogether #Faith #KnowMe #Inspiration #MondayMotivation