hope
Part of Moving To Something New
is leaving something behind. I think about the things I am going to miss, like pulling up to the Sonic drive-thru or working the camera at church. These things have become part of who I am, and the good news is God is still writing that story. This gives Him the right to edit.
I think about the people I won’t see every day and the fact that some of you are moving out of my life for good. We assume we have an eternity with each other. We don’t so we should make the most of the time we do have.
I have learned that God isn’t going to fill up something that is already full. So. He takes things away
Moments like this give me the opportunity to really value the people and activities which make an impact in my life. Some of these things will be hard to let go of, but I look forward to how they are replaced. And one of the really cool things about God is He always sends little snippets of what I can expect.
As I am on my way to the table to meet a good friend today for lunch, I ran into someone else. This woman is on my A List of people. Here daughter Amy is one of the biggest cheerleaders in my life. God sent Barbara Love by today to give me a hug and encouragement. It was so sweet running into her today. God keeps confirming those strong BSF foundations in my life.
Today I got to have lunch with a person who was my hero in college. I remember watching her as an undergrad and thinking I want to be like her when I grow up. And the cool thing about today is we spent the time talking about the future instead of reminiscing about the past. We acknowledged the challenges that are ahead of us but see more of the adventure that is to come.
We talked about the skills we have picked up over the last couple of decades and how we can use them more wisely. We knew the world had changed drastically since we were in college. We discussed how we as older women find ourselves in a place where we have a lot of knowledge but need to create new paths to distribute it. We encouraged each other.
God knew who I needed to meet with before I started this new journey and He knew what would be the outcome. When a sister is on her way up the ladder, she has to stop and take inventory of where she is. Knowing where I am, helps me know what I need to let go of, and what I need to keep.
If You Scared Take A Tiny Step,
if you are not, take a BIG step. Pursue the dream God has placed in your heart. You were created for a purpose, so you need to live in it while there is still time. Nothing is more fulfilling than doing the thing you were created to do.
When I see folks pursuing their dream it gives me energy. There is great joy in seeing people do what they were created to do. It inspires me to do more. You know iron sharpens iron. (Proverbs 27:17)
A few weeks ago, I got to learn about ceramics from a person who loves ceramics. She has more than 30 years experience and continues to grow. It was fun. It was inspiring. It made me think 3D instead of 2D. I mean I won’t be a master in ceramics but it was good to develop my ideas around sculpture.
I understand that it is very scary to take a step toward something that probably makes your heart beat faster. It is worth it. Once you get use to taking those steps you will find it easier to venture beyond your initial plan.
I love to tell a story. I am learning a new way to do that. I am currently working a musical. I am excited and scared at the same time. But I am in love with the notion of telling the story of love and redemption through music. I have never done anything like it before, but I am going to put everything I got into it.
Whatever it is you are supposed to do. Do it with everything you got. Stop waiting for the right time. Now is the right time. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be done.
Dancing During the Storm Vol 2 is June’s Featured Book
The best part of my life is that I get to tell stories that have been inspired by the Creator of the Universe. Whenever I feel as though I am done with this writing thing, He gives me a story I can’t keep to myself. And the funny thing about it is, many of the stories I tell seem to have to real connection. But I trust the Ultimate Storyteller. This month I am working on some new projects, but here is a done one that I just love. Dancing During the Storm Vol 2 is a collection of short stories that captures the imagination. His Favorite One is the story of a man given a great responsibility but has to deal with the consequences of not fulfilling them. Dancing Vol 2 is the featured book for the month of June. It is available on Amazon, Createspace and Books2Read.com
Dancing 2
When I Hear People Complain
about social media, I have to wonder who the heck they are following or allowing to follow them. God warns us pretty clearly when He says “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
I mean you can get rid of people with the click of a button. I know I have done it. Your media should be the perfect because you follow the folks who encourage you, delete those folks who get on your nerves and live your best life.
I love Twitter. It is a place where I can see what people really think. I mean you might sing a great song, or preach a great sermon, but I want to know what you are about when the fat meets the fire.
I mean if you are prolife but have not problem with the government taking children from their parents and releasing them to human traffickers, I need to know that about you.
If you post a whole bunch of I love Jesus stuff, but the only love you show is your friend group, I need to know that.
The thing I love the most about Twitter is the ability to comment back. Nothing is more empowering to me than to be able to say, “Oh you got that all wrong!” or “Keep up the faith sister, we all in this together.”
This week I have been encouraged by the women who support other women. They encouraged them not to grow weary in the fight for justice. They said accept every little victory as a victory.
I love knowing that there are women out there fighting the fight with everything they got. It gives me a pin hole of light in a very dark world. Because of Jesus, I build my world on hope that good will triumph over evil.
They Inspire Me
I have spent the last couple of weeks drawing. I have done over 30 images of women who inspire me by the way they live their lives. They have supported me in all sorts of ways. Drawing all of them has been hard. I have literally worked until I couldn’t look at a computer screen. My eyes grew cloudy and burned continuously late into the night. I have learned how to handle new details of how to make each drawing better. As I learned new things, I had to resist the urge to go back and do it to the drawings I had already completed.
I have written stories about how these women’s lives have pushed me on. It is such a blessing to live in a community where there is good life. You are surrounded by good life, just step outside yourself and see.
This woman here is good at everything she does. She dances. She draws. She helps others. She loves her family. I love watching her life because when it is all said and done, life will be broke and she will be rich. She is using it all.
15, 16 and 17
Let me warn you now, any good you see in me is really Christ because there is no good in me except for Him.
15. I did not set out to do this, but as I looked back on it, I have to say I am impressed with God. I did stuff for others and required nothing in return. Atleast once a quarter I donated blood or platelets. It may have been more because sometimes went when they called. But atleast once a quarter I gave so someone else could benefit. This year I also reached out to my friends and we raised money for a family that adopted 4 children into their family of five.
16. I learned to do new things on social media. I started sharing my art on Instagram. It challenges me to see the world differently and use the things I learn. It makes me tell a story in a few shots.
I.love.twitter. There are some of the most wittiest and clever people I have never met. But there are also some of the most stupidiest. I have found hope and joy in the words of others. I have found laughter that almost stops my breathing. And I relish the moments I can join the fight. There is absolutely nothing like when twitter goes in on a person. ( If they ever go in on you, shut up. Do not respond you will only feed the fire.) i.love.twitter.
17. I took some great photos this year and surpassed my goal. There was a good combination of families, individuals and events. They all made me look good. Thank you.
Doing 17 things that I had not done before was not easy. Sometimes it was really hard to do things differently or step out of my comfort zone. I had to think about what I was doing because it is easy to do the same things you are comfortable with, but what does that really get you. What new thing are you learning? How are you stretching your current skill set? Since next year ends in 18, there will be 18 different things on my list. I look forward to what the year brings.
I challenge you to look for 18 new things to do next year. As you accomplish these things, take a photo and share it with us.
Peace and Hairgrease.
Sometimes the thing you fear the most
is the thing that blesses you the most. I learned many years ago that when that thing you fear the most comes upon you, let it. It is in those moments you meet God in a whole new way.
Let me explain. I had been praying over some things waiting on God’s answer. Writing in my journal and waiting. Some of the strangest struggles I have ever experienced came upon me. Imagine all of the things you feared happening all together at one time. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is where your bible memory verses come in.
When your situation starts to deteriorated, you have to remind yourself of who God is. You won’t always have access to your bible or the app when Satan starts reminding you how dire your situation is. You got to know God’s word. Remind yourself of God’s character. He said he would never leave you or forsake you. (Heb 13:5) He said He knows how to give good gifts (Matt 7:9-11) You must trust what He is giving you is good even though the world and people around you will tell you it is bad.
Because of my struggles this week, I got to spend time meditating on Lecrae’s new album, All Things Work Together. Wow. What an incredible young man and powerful prophet! I love how God speaks to us through vernaculars we understand. I could relate to his need to be “Black Black” and a “prophet who visits the chicken shack.”
God knows me well. He knows what gets my juices pumping and what inspires me. He knows my heart and how to reach it. As I listen to the words of this album and hear this young man’s story I can’t help but say “God, you are so awesome!” I can’t do nothing but praise Him.
More than anything, I found this young man’s journey compelling. He shared his pain and his triumph. His rhymes draw a picture of a real life poured out to Christ. He is not a fake smile who only wants to talk about Jesus, but a real person who dealt with depression, anger and doubt. And he took it all and ministered to us. But God told us our sons and daughters would prophesy (Joel 2:28)
What I prayed over for months, He answered in a moment. He taught me through the words of a rap album. A song said “Crooked sticks draw straight lines.” Sit on that, cause we the stick. We ain’t doing the drawing.
Sit down and let the Lord of the Universe draw. He gives us the grace to take it.
Once You Get You Some Learning
They can’t take it away from you. I learned about art and spent time with aspiring artists. I learned to draw and process black and white film and create digital art. It gave me different eyes to look at the world with.
I don’t know what your 2018 will hold, but I hope you choose to do something that will change your point of view about the world around you. I hope it will help you look at the world though another lense. I hope you will try to do something you never thought you could do.
These are some of the 17 things I did this year that are different from what I have done in the past. Each year of your life, that you are able, you should explore this amazing world that God has placed you in.
My faith has been stretched in 2017 like it has never been before. I have had some of the best laughs of my life on Twitter. And I learned how to make an incredibly good grilled cheese sandwich.
It doesn’t cost anything to live life. Go
Peace and Hairgrease.
September Book Event Week One
It is Week One of the September Book Event. Please join us on Facebook to learn more about the books and projects created at UPP Creative Media.
This week the featured book is Connections. There will be contests, writing tips, featured projects and more.
Join the event on Facebook : Facebook Event
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