The Season of 2020

Tags

2020, Christian, hope, Inspiration

For me, it takes a long look back to January when 2020 was pretty good. My husband and I visited my Sister and family in Riverview FL, walked the shore of Clearwater Beach and cruised the Caribbean visiting five ports of call and lazying a couple days away on private beaches. 2020 has not been ALL bad. Again, though, I have to rummage through a lot of months to remember that. Because, without a doubt, the rest of this year has been unimaginable.
I was inspired to write today because I just read yet another account of someone experiencing loss at the hands of 2020. Tragically, thousands of people have lost their lives during this pandemic and many others have suffered its illness. Yet others have missed out on milestone, even once-in-a-lifetime occasions such as graduations, national recognitions, travel dreams and more.
It dawned on me while reading her post, that we cannot get lost in our losses. As is the nature of time, 2020 is a season that will pass. We will survive and experience joys of living again. Not as we knew it, but prayerfully with more appreciation for life, our fellow humanity and for every blessing and opportunity we receive.
I’ve been reflecting recently on the seasons within this season. How for the past seven months of this season, I (as I’m sure many of you) have experienced what I will call inner-seasons. The emotions of them ebbing and flowing, highs and lows, fears and faith-emboldened courage. The Spring that was shut-in, filled with sleepless nights, ghost emotions, the onslaught of news alerts and bona fide fear for my life, health and family, for the world. Then Summer came (it always does). We cautiously ventured out, literally for air, to move, to feel the hope and promise of life. Even with the safety protocols, it was everything to spend time with our family, it felt good to move in familiar places, to enjoy a walk in nature, to be filled up with the rays of the sun. After much persuasion, we even took a road trip and went to the ocean for a day (one of my most favorite things to do in life). 
Now, on the threshold of October, it seems Summer was fleeting. With its beauty, still in the shadow of the pandemic, violence and social injustice, the countless ‘isms, bureaucratic corruption and lunacy. Autumn and Winter remain to be.
What remains settled in my spirit is God is with us (He always Is) and 2020 is a ‘season’ in time that will change. It will. That’s the thing about seasons, they change. 
I want to look through the lens of faith with hope and trust in a future that God has for me, my loved ones and His creation. I want that for everyone. What is before us has to be greater than what is behind. We must not lose hope. We must look unto the hills from whence cometh our help and our future; our help comes from the Lord. We must not give up on our future, nor its promise. Beyond 2020, or 2021, we must live and believe to see God’s goodness in our lives.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” ~ Romans 15:13 (ESV)
What is sustaining your hope for the future? Let me know in the comments.

Becoming

I’ve been reading First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir, “Becoming”, with delight and intrigue. She shares a portrait of who she really is and all that has shaped her life and person. I find it so boss that she was all that we admire of her even before she became the FLOTUS. Even through experiences of self-doubt and frailties, she was never one to back down, cave in or give up. She always sought answers and ways to become better, to become her best.

It is such a powerful lesson in a day and time when I constantly question my belonging, how I look to much at my lack instead of what I possess. Comparison does that. Scrolling social media and measuring myself by the highlight reel of others.

In all honesty, at this threshhold of a new year I feel the burnout of the pursuit. The influx and bombardment of images and voices, I just want to squash it all.  Let the noise give way to the silence and clarity of God’s peace, beauty and wellness.

To become the whole of His thoughts toward me because they are good, filled with hope and promise, lacking nothing.

Becoming.

“According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” ~ 2 Peter 1:3

 

I Will Get There

My positive energy this morning is heightened by my view of

the clouds, high and billowy with a strand of sunlight peeking through,

The Lake, a medium blue with wave caps dancing on the surface and

Although it is summer, the wind has a caress of Autumn

Welcome to a new week, always filled with promise right up there with uncertainty

The strong inner me says take the reins, seize the day … be awesome, you’ve got this

The not so strong, also inner me, wavers in the backdraft of repetitive missteps

Either way, perseverance, though postured on the gas and the brake

Reels me forward

Whatever the dream, task or goal, it is attainable when you never give up

Accepting that I’m on a journey to a destination

And the only way to get there is to keep trusting the process

Stay the course whether choppy or calm

I will get there

 

Input, Output

“Wherever I am,

Whatever I do,

Everything about me

Is an asset.”

I cannot remember where I heard or read that affirmation, but it has been one (for many years) that I affirm often.

The phrase is so true, ‘you are what you eat’.

It is usually a reference to natural food, however, it applies equally to what is ingested into our spirits and thoughts.

I’ve been listening to Tedx Talks this morning, receiving a flow of positivity, knowledge and inspiration.

Listening to empowering words, uplifting experiences and the possibility of a new reality.

It felt like every cell and organ of my being was being nourished, like inhaling refreshing oxygen into the lungs of my thought processes. It was stimulating. What I heard was nothing new. So much of it: my faith, mentorship, study, and relationships have conferred over the nearly 60 years of my life.

It is funny (in a sad way) how what we know can be buried under the acidity of negative self-perception, the idea of who we are.

Such a state of mind is usually based on comparisons we make of ourselves to others, who we perceive them to be without really having a clue. I look at people, especially strong, successful women I admire, and ask myself do they ever feel like I feel? Because ‘my’ unfounded perception of them is, no.

Emergency brake. This writing isn’t really going in the way I intended.

(Listen to Mel Robbins’ “How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over” TEDx Talk on YouTube)

My inspiration for this wordfest is to #1 get back to blogging (activation energy-just do it) and #2 focus on the importance of ingesting good, nourishing inspiration to deactivate viruses that infect our thoughts, conversations and behaviors.

Ingesting good stuff, naturally, mentally, and spiritually will ensure we are well nourished and thriving in our perception of ourselves and of others. The positivity, inspiration and light floods the darkness with the brilliance of hope and possibility.

God has created each of us with value.

What is it that you do well? What are you passionate about? How are you making a difference?

It does not have to be on a grand stage. Whether it is in your home with the family God has blessed you to have, with your circle of friends, in the social sector of your community, or as a philanthropic world leader, it and YOU have value.

Input what nourishes your life and reaffirm it within yourself repeatedly. Let no one despise it, not even you.

Then, at every opportunity, reinforce it by doing, becoming, being the output that adds value to this world.

 

A Call to Mentorship

I am forever thankful for the incredible woman I adopted as my mentor. Mentors are persons you know who are doing what you want to do, so you engage them in a relationship that will allow you to glean from their experience and skills that you may learn and grow from them. Usually such a relationship is consensual in an ask and accept manner but I feel ours was a God-bond that has enriched my life in an unforgettable way. I wrote about it a few years ago – here, https://simplyphenomenal.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/reflections-of-a-mentor/.

Recently, I have committed to participate as a mentor in a start-up mentoring program. I believe strongly in the premise of mentoring. I learned early in my adult life that you cannot grow from lateral relationships – people who act, think and communicate like you. You must seek out those who know more, do more and can help you to be more than what you are.

“It is so essential to surround yourself with individuals

who are ALREADY where you want to be.

Iron sharpens iron.” — Unknown

I must say I’m a little nervous about this new undertaking but I’m looking forward to the possibilities of impacting the life of a young woman as the Bible instructs sage women to do. I pray that the values and example she observes of me will be those that she desires to emulate in her own life.

Considering an analogy, I think about the spiritual mothers and sisters who have exemplified holy living, modesty, godliness, and Christian leadership in my life. What they have given me was mostly modeled, some taught. What was exceptional about the relationship with my mentor is that she took me along side of her, gave me opportunities to use the skills I had and to develop new ones. She added value to my life and made me feel like I was an asset … she enforced that belief in me.

“Tell me and I forget,

Teach me and I may remember,

INVOLVE me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

Even after so many years of different paths, we are still connected and I’m still so greatly blessed by her intrinsic, God-inspired nature to empower others to their highest potential.

It has been said God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

I am answering the call.

Pearls of Wisdom

Time, patience and the creative properties of nature create pearls. “Pearls represent the best in us.”

Pearls of wisdom must be the value and strength we gain from experiences of life, whether good or not so good.

One of my favorite Oprah Winfrey quotes says, “No experience is ever wasted. Everything has meaning.”

What matters is how we respond and grow from every experience.

When I think of a time of struggle for me, it was a time of transition. A time, I felt of exclusion, non-acceptance, displacement. It was so heavy for me, I felt I could not breathe, I felt a condition of emotional and spiritual atrophy. Prayer and the redeeming love of God restored the life I felt I had lost.  From that experience and others in life, I have grown stronger, wiser, more fulfilled.

Whatever the experience or circumstances, if it is a stumbling block, we must use it as a stepping stone. If it is a hurdle, we must use it as a trajectory. If it is a victory, we must use it as a catapult to blast us to even greater. Learning is a perpetual state of being. Every single day, every single moment must be a teachable one for ourselves and for others. We must teach not only in word or verse but most significantly by model and example. It is true what one does speaks louder than what one says.

If you love me, show me … Love is what love does.

Life lessons become pearls of wisdom that can be spoken but also must be lived out. These gems are personality traits and the values of character that enable an individual to be their best self, it represents the best of who they are.

The representation of one’s truest self always speaks louder than anything they say.

The wisdom we gain through life shapes who we are, “wisdom indeed is the principal thing”. When wisdom is not exercised, it brings about chaos. Therefore we must seek to apply wisdom in all things.

Wisdom does not consider a small measure of anything but it examines all angles and variables to be certain of the best action or response.

Pearls, whether linked or pooled together represent the illustrious rich beauty of who we are and what we are able to give, the best in us.

The Power to Become

It has been over thirty years since our Bishop Charles William Watkins (he’s in Heaven now) preached a powerful life-changing series of sermons entitled, The Power to Become”. As I pondered what to write for a breakthrough today, the words of the companion song he wrote came rushing back …

He has given us power to become something more than we are

He has given us power to become something more than we are

He has given us power, He has given us power

To become something more than we are

If you’ve ever been there, you know feeling rejected is hard to overcome.

When time and time again, you feel the same sense of ‘you’re not the one’.

Mustering up the ability to jump in the game again, to try again, to overcome can be like climbing a mountainous terrain.

It is hard. Even when you know you are capable, when you know you’re prepared, when you know you have something to offer.

The vulnerability of being wanted, needed, loved, accepted, valued.

The vulnerability of wanting to do more, be more.

The vulnerability of being crushed pushes you further away, down and out.

You look here, there, everywhere for answers.

Sometimes from others, but mostly from yourself, from within.

But the recognition of rejection seeps through like hot oil over your heart.

     Tears well up in your being, you fight them back,

     Shake it off to survive the moments,

Only to find, the cycle is still spinning and spinning, wringing your esteem so tight and lifeless.

Our Bishop also taught us, you’re not a failure until you stop trying.

So you keep moving, searching, trusting … to become.

 

[reblog] The Fight for the Life I Want

The Fight for the Life I Want In December 2015, Summer released her book I am Warrior Princess:The Fight for the Life I Want.  This book discusses the tools needed for any woman to be armed and dangerous to fight for the life she wants.  From this moment on, challenge yourself to not just live an average life, but a life of joy,peace, prosperity and overflow in every area of your life.  How many of you have made a strategic( battle) plan for the year yet?  Not a new year’s resolution(s) but a battle plan. A resolution is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something. A battle plan is defined as a plan for actively doing something. There is a huge difference. One is simply a decision where the other puts the power into your hands and demands action. Its not too late…. this week work on your battle plan of how you plan to fight for the life you want. For more insight, Summer’s book can be purchased online at iamwarriorprincess.com or on amazon.

Our Warrior Princess Feature for the month of January is Phyllis Lipford. Two years ago, Phyllis embarked on her weight loss journey  when she became fed up with her weight gain and increase in clothes sizes.   She began with a 21 day Daniel Fast where her diet consisted of mainly fruits and vegetables, where she later added seafood. Phyllis soon realized that her diet was only half the battle and  she would need to get off her couch and exercise to see more results. That is when she  incorporated exercise into her lifestyle. Over the span of 2 years, Phyllis has lost over 50 pounds due to her commitment to a healthier lifestyle. She admits that she sometimes struggles with her Starbucks indulgences. However, she acknowledges the importance of balance in her life. Phyllis states, ” The best and most important thing I did was took the first step without seeing the entire staircase”. One of the many things that motivates Phyllis Lipford is “setting and crushing personal goals every step of her journey”. Phyllis recently became a Zumba instructor in  June 2015.  A woman with a huge fight for a better life is why Phyllis Lipford is our Warrior Princess of the Month. Age 58 -Daughter of The King, Wife, Mother, Grandmother,  BA in Nonprofit Administration from CSU, Administrative Assistant for an international Law Firm for 35 years, Zumba Instructor. Copyright © 2016 Warrior Princess Wear, All rights reserved.              Our mailing address is: Warrior Princess Wear, PO Box 24154, Mayfield heights, Oh 44124

I’m Here (Five Minute Friday)

I’m HERE

Here at this place I’ve been a little too long

Here at this place where I’m longing to move away from

I’m here at this place, somewhat of a plateau

I’m here at this place, where I will not give up but continue to strive for my goals

I’m here at this place of reflection

Here, this place that requires introspection

Here, this place that requires a new commitment

Here, this place that requires innovation and invigoration

I’m here at this place where I’m not where I was but not where I want to be

I’m here at this place where I cannot relent

Here, this place, where determination and will pulls me forward

Here, where my beginning pushes me onward

Here, where my confidence assures me I will finish

MAKE A CLEAN PRISON BREAK

Linking up with the Five-Minute Friday community of bloggers, the prompt this week is BREAK. Learn more about it here.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” ~ Galatians 5:1

My husband and I were fans of the TV series, Prison Break. I loved the ensemble cast and he loved the concept. But when the BREAK was finally realized, the show ended. That is the way we need to look at life and the ‘prisons’ we find ourselves incarcerated by. Many of them are not physical, but mental and emotional. Once someone is released from prison, if they have also been released in their mind (thinking) and emotions (human makeup) they vow to NEVER return, they BREAK free forever.

There are recurrent ministry events and themes that continue to speak to the same place of imprisonment in our lives. When will we finally ever make THE BREAK? When will we finally ‘be not entangled again’?

I have written about it before, https://simplyphenomenal.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/demolish-the-chains-god-has-declared-new-beginnings/.

I believe it is important and so much more sustainable to give, teach and minister to people the tools they need to raise their consciousness to live free, healthy and whole; to make a clean BREAK from whatever their vices or encumbrances.  Obviously, it is not always realistic to immediately overcome circumstances of life but when we have transformed thinking, we are more apt to seek ways to improve and better our lives. We take those tools and use them for productivity and growth instead of wallowing in grooves of stagnant atrophy.

I encourage you reading this writing today to let God empower you to make a clean BREAK. BREAK free – first, from your own captivity (the root of most of our emotional incarceration) and BREAK free from the repression of others, past experiences (that are dead but we keep resurrecting), un-forgiveness and the inflamed guilt we put on people who have wronged us. There are endless chambers of confinement that exist but the God of eternal freedom, He Himself is the key to every clean Prison BREAK.

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately ALL the doors were opened, and EVERYONE’s bands were loosed.” ~ Acts 16:25-26