KardSwift's Hips

Ever wonder why "keeping up with the Jones"  - or errrr, now days the Kardashians makes you tired? You were created to be you. No one else. You. Authentically. Fully. You. 

By trying to be someone rather than who you are , you're performing. Acting gets old after a while, never getting to let loose and be real. 

But, I'm not here to condemn you. Not at all. Just encourage and give you nuggets to chew on. 

Most people perform because they feel it's necessary for approval , advancement, or gain. 

They think if they have Shakira's hips , Beyoncé's booty , or T-Swift's smile, they'd have friends fame and fortune too. 

Or if they were as smart as ________, as tall as __________,  as good of a free throw player as ________, or half as creative as _______, they'd make it ok in life. 

I have two things I want to point out here. The first: everyone- and I mean everyone- is an actor. It's very very very rare to see people just so raw and real. I guess that's why I find it so attractive in my friendships and when looking to date. 

T-Swift? Yeah, as awesome as she is, she knows she's getting paid to perform. To present herself a certain way. If she didn't meet these expectations, she'd loose fans and concert and merchandise sales. 

The airbrushed models in the magazine? Fake. The happy , no worries family on the spaghetti sauce commercial? Actors. 

The girl in the cubicle next to you, who's life seems perfectly put together? It's not. She knows she's expected to be poised and polished at the office  - but if you got to know the real her, After 5PM …

You'd realize everyone has their hang ups. Their quirks. Their struggles. 

But you know, my friend, that is what makes life BEAUTIFUL!! 

It leads me to my second point ( you thought I'd forgotten, huh?). 

Hear me , loud and clear- 

We were NEVER created to be perfect. 

We were lovingly crafted by a Father so loving that He created us even with full knowledge of the mess ups and messes we'd make. He CHOSE to make - and use - us to extravagantly display His Beauty and strength in, to and through. 

If we only grasped how much we were selling ourselves short when we try to  stuff ourselves in a box - wether that's someone else's view of us, or a skewed view of ourselves, the solution ( auto correct corrected solution to soul iron ; I think that is fitting as well; it is like spiritual anemia)  is the same : identifying ourselves as the beloved creation of a loving Father , not the dirt the world says about and to us. He took the dirt and recreated something divine from it. We've been made completely new. Completely. 

So, What if we just be ourselves?

We'd be reflecting our creator, because we're made in His image. Others would more clearly see themselves in you by seeing Him in you. Walls would fall. Energy once misused by performing to earn approval can be used to fulfill our designed plans. 

We are created individually and uniquely but for a common purpose. We fulfill that purpose in unique ways -one isn't better or more important than another.  Pieces in the puzzle. A 500 piece puzzle isn't complete-or much fun-with only 499 pieces. And it's obvious that one is missing. 

The World needs you -it even groans and cries out for you The real you. The true you -and, I need you.After all, you're beautiful now, but more so when He's shining through you. 😘 

Get off of the...SCALE.

I was pondering something earlier...

Why do many people never do what's on their heart? Why do they not "step out of the boat" , "take a leap of faith"?

There are many reasons (fear,doubt...), but I think they could mostly all be boiled down to comparison...

{This Paragraph isn't an original thought, it's paraphrased from an article I've since lost,but read many years ago,and gleaned the wisdom from...to pass on}
From conception,we are compared...how's our growth rate? Hear rate? Weight? Other Measurements? Then, we're compared to siblings,or cousins,or the random kid at the park...who's developing faster,who did what first...Then,we get into school...and here comes the grades...is Johnny as smart as the rest of the class? Is Susie running as fast as Mary? Then...High School...who's dating who...who gets into what club...who gets into what party...or what part in the play...etc...etc...etc...then comes job interviews...and on and on it goes!

It's no wonder that we compare our selves...we've been trained that way since day 1,literately!

We (I?) get excited about a new venture, then compare (my)ourselves to others, and start to doubt...
I don't have the same qualifications. Or training. Or time. Or skills. Or....whatever. Then,I toss the idea and start to doubt my value and worth. Teddy had it right... Joy is stolen from us by comparison.

Will's Right,too....




But little  do we see their behind the scenes...the practice..the tears...the sleepless nights...the headaches...the heartaches...the failures...





all we see is when comparing is the good stuff. *Side note... WE NEED AUTHENTICITY in ALL relationships...telling your struggle helps others through theirs!*




We need to remember that everyone has a "behind the scenes" we don't know... (Yes, I went there...shake it off...)



and most importantly....we need to remember - and remind each other- that we are ALL

Loved,valuable,cherished,amazing, talented, and worthy...no  matter what!

Faithful Friends

Today is apparently National best friend day.

In honor of that, here we go.

I may not have a singular "best friend" but I do have many people in my life I consider "framily."

They are faithful. 

They believe big things and challenge and encourage me too.

They are a "shield of faith".

What do I mean by that?

My friends have helped act as a shield for me.

By "Speaking to [me] with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit" - Ephesians 5 

Now, a lot of these people I'm lucky to see even once a week. So the modern version of this is social media and texting.

By posting a testimony or what they're learning or an encouraging word , {oh, give me a home ...where seldom is heard a discouraging word!!!} They effectively keep the prize, the goal, the mission, the mandate, the purpose before my eyes and ears. They act as a another layer of bubble wrap from the discouragement and depression and everything NOT listed in Philippians 4:8!! They help guard / sheild your heart from damaging things.  They act as trail markers, lining the path of the unfamiliar trail, helping me stay the course and on track.

Their authentic sharing also serves to boost MY faith by reminding me hey... if Abba did that for them, he can do the same for me!

So saints this a thank you. And a reminder that the "little stuff " matters. It makes a difference. And also a reminder to be intentional and mindful of how you use your influence.

What encourages you? Who in your life is a shield of faith for you, surrounding you with LIFE?

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Lights

To those shinning your light in the darkness-( and to the one thinking "Nope, not me!" Yes, you… we all influence those around us- even if we or they are unaware. You make a wayyy bigger impact than you know. Your "little things" make a big difference. ) I celebrate you. 

You are out there, daring to be a bold difference. Daring to be the light in the dark. Impacting those in your world. One light can only light a certain area. But multiple lights strung together cover a much bigger area. I appreciate you lighting up your world in a way I could never. Impacting people I can't. Serving and loving where I can't. All for the Gospels sake. Brothers. Sisters. I need you. I cherish you. Don't give up. Trust me. I KNOW being a "solo" light in a dark place isn't fun. But oh baby it's worth it. Hang in there. You're not alone. Abba is right beside you. In you. Before you. He's our common thread. He's the reason and  the {only} way this gets done. He sees. He hears. He knows. We weren't called to do everything on our own. We're called to abide. Rest. And let Him provide the energy needed. {Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning burning burning!}. Don't let your bulb burn out. The rest of the strand needs you. { ever see what happens to a strand of Christmas lights when one burns out?} Those in darkness around you need His light through you. Don't hide your light. And don't dampen others. Shine baby shine!  

Fertilizer.

Think about this: ( Selah) : if we didn't have life's "crap" to face, that'd mean we were being stagnant. At least when pushing through the "crap" we're pushing forward, onward to the prize, maturing to be able to produce more fruit. A stagnant seed rots ( AND stinks!!!). Same with stagnant roots or a plant in any stage of maturity. But a maturing one, one growing, thriving, producing fruit to nourish others grows up. Pushes through the stinky crap of the world around and uses that wisdom as fertilizer to enrich themselves and produce sweeter more bountiful and richer fruit. And also… there's 9 fruits listed. We work on them continually through out life. Like first you learn to count. Then Maybe recognizing the numbers. Then writing. Then adding. Subtracting. Before long? Calculus. It takes time. A acorn takes a bit to produce more acorns. 

My point? Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 MSG)

Expectation

Ok,guys...this is abnormal for me,and "flipped"... verses first,then the "story"...so read on.


In my reading this morning ,I ran across the below :

I Immediately thought of  "Tent Pegs" in Isaiah 54

Isaiah 54 The Message (MSG)

Spread Out! Think Big! 

1-6 “Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.

    Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth!

You’re ending up with far more children

    than all those childbearing women.” God says so!

“Clear lots of ground for your tents!

    Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!

Use plenty of rope,

    drive the tent pegs deep.

You’re going to need lots of elbow room

    for your growing family.

You’re going to take over whole nations;

    you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.

Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.

    Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.

You’ll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,

    and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.

For your Maker is your bridegroom,

    his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!

Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,

    known as God of the whole earth.

You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,

    and God welcomed you back,

Like a woman married young

    and then left,” says your God.

7-8 

Your Redeemer God says:

“I left you, but only for a moment.

    Now, with enormous compassion, I’m bringing you back.

In an outburst of anger I turned my back on you—

    but only for a moment.

It’s with lasting love

    that I’m tenderly caring for you.

9-10 

“This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:

    I promised then that the waters of Noah

    would never again flood the earth.

I’m promising now no more anger,

    no more dressing you down.

For even if the mountains walk away

    and the hills fall to pieces,

My love won’t walk away from you,

    my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.”

    The God who has compassion on you says so.

11-17 

“Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied:

    I’m about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise,

Lay your foundations with sapphires,

    construct your towers with rubies,

Your gates with jewels,

    and all your walls with precious stones.

All your children will have God for their teacher—

    what a mentor for your children!

You’ll be built solid, grounded in righteousness,

    far from any trouble—nothing to fear!

    far from terror—it won’t even come close!

If anyone attacks you,

    don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them,

And if any should attack,

    nothing will come of it.

I create the blacksmith

    who fires up his forge

    and makes a weapon designed to kill.

I also create the destroyer—

    but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.

Any accuser who takes you to court

    will be dismissed as a liar.

This is what God’s servants can expect.

    I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.”

        God’s Decree.

I LOVE the similarities between the passage in Romans and the first 6 verses in the passage from Isaiah. 

Just a double reminder for me...

I've never been pregnant, but have had several friends who have, (including 2 right now!) and I've been able to be there for the whole 9 months to see the transition. One thing I know for sure, the later it gets in the pregnancy, the more that mama is ready for that sweet baby to be in her arms! But... I also know,and what keeps the mama "level" is knowing that keeping that baby "cooking" or devolving as long as possible is REALLY the best for the health of the baby. It also gives the new parents extra time to prepare- mentally, materialistically,and physically. Also, it provides extra time to bond with any siblings. 

JUST LIKE US.

When we have a "baby", a dream,a vision,or what ever,we ...ok...*I* tend to be very impatient for it to be here,now... and I really don't tend to stop and think about the preparation needed...not just for me,and those involved,but the vision...to take time to let it fully develop -get a clearer,bigger,more HD picture of that vision...the longer the baby stays in the womb,the more clear the sonograms become... from a little speck,to a "oh,she has your nose!" 

During the times of waiting, prepare. 




Most people plan and prepare for a baby once they find out they're expecting...they *eventually* buy all the necessary baby things... moving to a new place, bigger car...etc... make room for baby! 

Whatever preparation looks like for your vision : classes, saving money,moving, networking, serving under a mentor, or even stepping back from a current spot you're serving in to free yourself up, seek the Lord,and do it.

Full term babies-and visions- are healthier. I believe this is why so many visions and ideas of our times have died out...including my own...

We (including myself!) are a generation of innovative,connected, bright, passionate,go-getters.

We are also a generation accommodated to iPhones and technology... and getting and doing stuff NOW. (MYSELF INCLUDED). 

We...*Read,I* forget to seek further direction and counsel on "missions" that the Father lets us be apart of.

I,personally, just get so excited with an idea he mentions...that I want to go...now...like the toddler you don't say T-O-Y S-T-O-R-E around. 

Instead,I am working on maturing that to oh,ok...you're inviting me along on this mission,what an adventure...what's your plan?

The cool thing is,He says during the waiting period,prepare...expand your tents...and He will fulfill... sometimes we...*I* hold off because it seems too absurd. What if Noah had waited for that Ark!?!?! 

So...what are you expecting?! Go forth,seek,prepare,and expect...congratulations! :-D

Tedious

Friend maybe you're like me today and  just need some encouragement.  Well we just need to continue running the race and remember even during the Israelites 40 years in the Desert  the Lord was with them and even during Noah's preparation. The  Lord was there and even during the fiery furnace of the Hebrew children he was there so no matter what even in the storms on the see the Lord is there.  The tediousness of building a wall or wondering for 40 years or building an ark may seem like the Lord has forgotten you while you're waiting for your promise like Abraham and Sarah but trust me he hasn't and he won't and he can't.

 Take some time to rejoice ( find joy again) in the day that the Lord has made for you regardless of how tedious the tasks me seem. Joshua had to wait seven days for the walls Jericho to come down. Namnann had to dip seven times. Nehemiah did not rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in one day. Esther did not win an audience with the king in one day. Don't give up on God's dreams for you he hasn't.