A Designer's Original

Psalm 139:14 – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Genesis 1:31a – “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!”

If you’re a true fashionista, whenever you hear the term designer’s original, you probably think of some of the world’s top fashion designers, like Prada, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, or Christian Louboutin. Their original designs, sold at top dollar value, have adorned the bodies, arms and feet of the highest-ranked celebrities in mainstream media…Beyonce, Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey and the like. The work of these top designers is considered incomparable, and though their designs are often very closely replicated, not one duplication exactly reflects the designer’s original work. Though on the outside they can pass for the same piece, the original design has specific inner-stitching that no other designer can emulate. And at the end of the day, only the designer’s original is the real deal. It is the only masterpiece, and the only design that can fulfill the intended purpose set in the place by the one who created it.

Although those designer’s produce impeccable works of art, there is a designer –THE TOP designer – whose handiwork trumps them all. Who is that designer, you ask? Some call Him Abba, Jehovah, Elohim, Yahweh – that top designer is God. What is His greatest work? Pull out your mirror and there you will see. YOU are His greatest, most original and valuable design. According to Psalm 139:13, In your mother’s womb, He meticulously knitted you together and made all of the delicate, innermost parts of your body. According to Genesis 1:27, He created you in His own image and likeness, to be a reflection of the perfection He embodies. And according to Jeremiah 29:11, as He designed you, He did so with a plan in mind, a plan that leads you to a future and a hope. You are not merely a result of the physical connection between your father and mother, but you are a strategically produced masterpiece, designed by the Creator of the world, and purposed to fulfill God’s specific, predestined plan for your life. You were created on purpose, for purpose.

You possess an inner-stitching, which consists of your character, personality, gifts, calling and anointing, that sets you apart in a world of look-alikes. There is no need to desire to duplicate, replicate or emulate any other person upon this earth, because the only thing you are wired, or originally designed to be, is YOU. There is no one on this earth to whom you must measure up to, because God created no other person exactly like you. No other person in this world sets the standard for who should be, for every detail of who you are is tailor-made to fit the specific purpose God designed for you.

When you understand that you are a designer’s original, you will realize that you are not, nor will you ever be, a cheap substitute for the next best thing. You ARE the best thing. You are the only one of your kind. No one can sing like you, teach like you, preach like you, mother like you, think like you, lead like you, wife like you, dance like you, or create like you. It’s simply impossible. Though, as children of God, we share the same purpose in being a showcase for God’s glory, the way in which God has designed us to carry it out is unique, and leaves absolutely no room for comparison, criticism, or competition.

When you feel worthless, remember that a designer’s original has priceless value, because it is the only one of its caliber.

When you feel like you don’t fit in, remember than an original design is purposed to stand out among the crowd.

When you feel inferior or not as good as the rest, remember that every person to the left and right of you, regardless of their status in life, is an original design just like you. It’s impossible to compare.

When you feel unimportant, remember that the Ultimate Creator fearfully and wonderfully designed you with a specific purpose in mind that no other person in the world can fulfill.

From the uneducated woman to the one with many degrees…

From the unwed mother to the one living the American Dream…

From the promiscuous woman to the preacher woman…

From the abused woman to the one who’s never been touched…

You are one of a kind, created by the Master with great purpose in mind. You are a reflection of God’s beauty, a precious picture of His grace, and a jewel in His eyes. Despite where this life has taken you, the fact yet remains – you are a designer’s original and your value will never depreciate. Marvelous are God’s works.

This, your soul should know full well.

From my heart to yours...
xoxo

The Hidden Struggle: Be Free

I was molested by a family member between the ages of 6-8. Because of that, my body was awakened to sex and sexuality much sooner than it should've been. At 12, I was introduced to pornography. I guess because of the seed that had been planted within me by my abuser, something inside of me was drawn to the images and dirty acts on the TV screen, and my body responded in a way that was confusing. Confusing, yet interesting. I was simultaneously intrigued and puzzled. I didn't understand what my body was feeling, and a part of me knew it was probably wrong, but in a strange way, I liked it. After the first viewing, I was hooked. The more I watched, the more my desire for it grew. Even when I wanted to turn away, I couldn't.

Before I realized it, I'd formed an addiction to it. Watching it became my stress-reliever, my stimulant and my depressant, it was my escape from the troubles of life.

In what seemed like a blink of an eye, 15 years had passed, and there I was -- wife, mother, christian woman -- bound in the chains and guilt of a pornography addiction.

I wanted so badly to be free. My convictions had changed, and I knew it was displeasing to God and disrespectful to my husband. But still, even in my best efforts to stop, I found myself hiding away behind closed doors, indulging in my secret sin. I'd become instantly disgusted with myself for falling...again. But I was in so deep, I couldn't find that way of escape 1 Corinthians 10:13 speaks of.

I was a prisoner to it. Sucked in to its guilty pleasure. Its claws were embedded deep into my spirit.

I was so ashamed. I could never tell a sole.

My soul was begging to be free, but my mind was stuck in bondage. There were times when I felt like I just couldn't control the urges. The spirit of lust had greatly overtaken me.

I wish I could tell you that I finally enrolled myself into Porn Addicts Anonymous, followed a 12-step program, and successfully overcame. But that's not my testimony.

I fought tooth and nail for my freedom, and it was HARD.

I cried.
I fasted.
I prayed.
I fell.

I cried.
I fasted.
I prayed.
I fell.

I cried.
I fasted.
I prayed.
I denied myself.
I overcame.

God took the taste from my mouth, and I'm three years free with no desire to look back.

Nobody's talking about this, but pornography addiction is alive and well among women -- among Christian women -- and many are struggling to break free.

Deliverance is possible and available for you. It takes fortifying your spirit with the word of God and through prayer, and in many cases, an accountability partner. It takes denying yourself when self-pleasure is screaming at you. It takes being committed to going through the process of withdrawal and doing whatever it takes to obtain your freedom. It takes forgiving yourself and understanding that when you confess your sins to The Father, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you. It takes understanding that no matter how many times you've fallen, God will pick you up, dust you off and use you for His glory.

You can be free. You are free. Grab hold to it.

You can do all things through Christ's strength.

From my heart to yours...
xoxo

You're Already Beautiful

When is the last time you looked in the mirror and admired how beautiful you are? No, I'm not talking about the mirror that hangs on your wall. Neither am I referring to your hair or your hips, your curves or cute clothes, your bust or your butt. 

 Nope!

The mirror that I speak of is GOD. Itt was in His image that you were created. The reflection you see when you stand face to face with yourself should be His, not the superficial definition of beauty that's been shoved down your throat by mainstream media and pop culture. You see, the thing that makes you beautiful cannot be purchased from a shelf. It's not in the MAC makeup, but in the divine makeup in which you were created by The Man above. It's not in the clothes you wear, but in the work of the cross Jesus had to bear. It's not in the lashes you place upon your eyes, but in the lashes that were placed upon Jesus' body. It's not even in those red bottoms, but in the red blood that was shed just for you.

Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being fly and fabulous. But again, that's not where your true beauty lies.

Your beauty has nothing to do with your childhood history. It's not connected to the abuse you suffered or the father that never showed you love. It's not at all contingent upon how much your mother failed to love you or the rejection you faced from your peers. It's not even about the number of men you've had sex with or any of the sexual struggles you've had. Neither is your beauty indicative upon how many men lust after you or the number of likes connected to your social media pictures. And it's not about how well you "twerk", or "werk" overtly revealing clothes.

Here's the thing...

Long before your parents ever even met, God knew you. Before you were ever a tiny little fetus growing in your mother's womb, God chose you. Before your heart ever made its first beat, God loved you. Before the foundation of the world, He gave you purpose.

He formed you - even your innermost parts - in His perfect image and to His liking. He shaped you perfectly for the purpose in which He created you. (Yes, you have purpose!) He laid out every detail of your life - even those things that you hate about yourself - and, by His hands, made you His masterpiece. You are the apple of His eye.

You are beautiful because you were created in the Spirit of a beautiful God. You are beautiful because you are a daughter of royalty. You are beautiful because God loved you SO much that He sacrificed His son just for you. You are beautiful because God has good plans for your life.

When is the last time you looked at yourself through God's eyes to see your true beauty?

All of those things that society says makes a woman beautiful can only mildly enhance the exterior of what is already perfectly made. It's what's within you - placed by God - that displays your true beauty.

You don't have to be hot, when God has created you to be holy.

You don't have to have certain clothes, when God has clothed you in righteousness.

You don't need compliments, when God gives you love without conditions.

Clothes, shoes, makeup, all of that is great. The problem is that those things can be stripped away, and with it, take your store-bought beauty. But when it comes to the beauty that was placed upon and within you by God, nothing and no one can take it away from you. 

Take the stress and pressure off of yourself and know this -- Your beauty is intricately wrapped in the divine design of your creation. It is in the combination of splendid qualities placed within you by the hands of The Heavenly Father before He formed you in your mother’s womb. You are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece, and everything He creates is lovely. His image sets the standard for your beauty, and His image is perfectly beautiful; therefore, so are you.

Fashion yourself after the Spirit of the Lord and clothe yourself in holiness, righteousness, love, peace, and joy. Adorn yourself with a life of worship and prayer. Measure yourself next to the Word of God, and in those areas where you don't quite line up, ask for His grace and strength to alter what is necessary.

You're already beautiful. No mirror or magazine cover can define that; only God.

Embrace THAT beauty.

From my heart to yours...
xoxo

(Scripture References: Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-17; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 1:4; Genesis 1:27;31; Isaiah 61:10).

Get Over Yourself & Grow

I believe that the Lord is ready to raise His daughters up, but He needs us to move past our past, get over ourselves, and stop making excuses.  This was a serious process for me, but over the past few years the Lord has tremendously moved by His power in my life, and I've healed, been delivered and grown in ways I thought unimaginable for myself. After so many year of being a prisoner of bondage to depression, sin, low self-esteem (And the list goes on!), at the close of 2009, I declared that I would not continue on another year with life as I knew it and made a conscious decision to relentlessly work towards becoming the woman God created me to be.  

Because of what I have seen the Lord do for me personally, I am fully convinced that it does not matter how low you sink, how dark your past, or how great your sin, God will clean you up, and use you for His glory.  If He could do that for me, I know He’ll do it for you.

So where do you start?  I’m glad you asked. This is exactly what I had to do...

1. Move past your past.  Your past is only a prelude to the story of your life.  If you allow yourself to get stuck there, you will never find out how the remainder of the story unfolds.  What happened yesterday does not define who you can be tomorrow, so as much as it may hurt or as shameful as you may feel, there is life beyond it.  It is absolutely impossible to walk forward and look backwards at the same time.  In the Message Bible, Isaiah 43:18 says “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history…I’m about to do something brand new.”  Break free from the chains of your past through the power of Jesus Christ, and allow the Lord to do something new in your life.

2. Get over yourself.  Now before you roll your eyes at me for telling you to get over yourself, hear me out. This was a hard one for me, because I often felt like nobody had it worse than me.  You know, the whole woe is me attitude.  I had it bad.  But you know what?  Life happens to everyone; not just you.  God hasn’t singled you out to be picked on by the happenings of life.  You’re not the only one who was molested.  You’re not the only one who never had a father or mother.  You’re not the only one who had a baby out of wedlock.  You’re not the only one struggling with addictions.  It’s not just about you.  Realizing this helps you to turn down the invitation to that pity party you keep getting invited to.  At least it did for me.  Once you understand that the things that happen in your life are not designed as a personal attack against you, but are purposed to build and develop you, I think you’ll learn to stop feeling sorry for yourself.  Self-pity will begin to cease, and progression towards moving forward can begin.

3. Stop making excuses.  It’s as simple as that!  The enemy will always give you reasons why you can’t move forward in life.  He definitely gave me plenty.  But at some point, you have to stop believing what he says about you, and believe what God says.  I want you to erase the following phrases from your mind and vocabulary:

I can’t…
I would but…
It’s just not meant for me…
This is just who I am…

Those are all excuses.  Replace them with positive affirmations.

I can…
I will…
There’s more for me…
I don’t have to stay this way…

You can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength. (Philippians 4:13)  In Christ, there are no excuses, because with Him nothing is impossible.

Purpose in your mind that this will be the last year that you allow yourself to be anything less than who God has destined you to be.  Resolve in your heart that you are going to make the first step towards moving forward, make strides towards tapping into and maximizing the potential that God placed within you before the foundation of the world, and commit to the process.

May you be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may rise higher in life and in the Lord.

From my heart to yours...
xoxo

Giving Up Is Not God's Option For You

I have experienced my fair share of distress, disdain, and discomfort throughout my life.  Like many other women, molestation and the absence of my father - among the plethora of bad choices I made - led me into a life of sexual immorality, addiction, depression, and low self-esteem.  I had sunken so low, and become so accustomed to my hard-knock life, that when I finally reached a place where I actually wanted to get a grip on my downward spiraling life, it proved to be too challenging.  Praying was easy, but believing that I’d ever see the answers to my pleas for help, hope, and healing was extremely difficult.

There were times when it seemed that the more I prayed and tried to make steps towards a better life, something would always happen to knock me backwards.  Constantly being knocked down by the blows of life caused me to feel that giving up and accepting that things were as good as they were going to ever be, would be much easier than walking a path of faith that seemed to get me nowhere close to my land flowing with milk and honey.

The more depressed I became, the more I convinced myself that I’d be better off throwing in the towel.  But no matter how much I wanted to quit, or how often I cried “Lord, I give up” I am so thankful that His mercy kept me when I didn’t want to be kept.

Had I given up during those tough seasons, I never would have known the beauty of God’s plans for my life.  I would have missed out on seeing the Lord’s promise to give me hope and a future becoming manifest in me. Although my current journey is neither perfect, nor devoid of challenging circumstances, I am confident that just as He has already proven, God will continue to be faithful to perfect everything that concerns me.

When I compare my today to my yesterday, I realize that it would have been crazy of me to give up back then.  My sufferings back then do not compare to the glory that God daily reveals to me through His purpose for my life.  Giving up was once definitely an option I wanted to choose for myself, but I am thankful that it was not the one God intended for me.

Neither is it what He intends for you.

Life gets hard for everyone; none of us are exempt.  And sometimes the storm can become so boisterous that you’d rather be swept away with the wind than try to fight through it.  But today I’ve come to encourage you to keep pressing onward; don’t give up.  It may not seem like it right now, but it will get better.  If you give up now, you’ll miss out on all of the wonderful works the Lord intends to do in, through, and for you. The very same God that brought me through (And continues to do so!) some of the toughest of times will do the same thing for you; He has no respect of persons.

Consider Hannah.  If she had allowed her years of barrenness to cause her to give up on her desire to bare children, she never would have experienced the joy of birthing Samuel. (1 Samuel 1:1-28)

Consider the woman with the issue of blood.  After twelve years of hemorrhaging and spending all of her money trying to find a cure that was of no avail, she could have given up and accepted that there was no hope for her ever being healed. But she didn’t. She kept the faith and pressed her way to Jesus. Because she didn’t give up, she was made whole. (Mark 5:25-35)

Consider Job.  He lost everything he had, and was sorely afflicted from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet.  He could have cursed God and died during his challenging season; instead, he decided to fight through it, and wait until his change would come.  Because he never gave up, the Lord fully restored him and gave him double for His trouble. (Job 42:10-17)

No matter where you are, or what you’re facing right now, please do not give up in the face of hard times. Better days are ahead.  Do not allow the enemy that comes in the form of frustration, weariness, and hopelessness, steal, kill, or destroy the abundant life God has promised to you.  He that began the good work in you is faithful to perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

Endure hardness as a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3), and as Philippians 4:6 (The Message) says, “Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

In your own strength you will fail, but if you connect to The Power Source, Jesus Christ, His strength will become perfect in your weakness.  His grace is sufficient and His strength will help you to hold on. Whatever you do, don’t give up.

From my heart to yours...
xoxo

Learn To Dance In The Rain

Whenever I believe that something I’m going through or have learned from things I’ve experienced can help someone, I don’t mind coming out of my private shell and allowing myself to be transparent.  Though we all have different troubles and struggles, I believe there is commonality among us all, and we can learn from and gain strength from one another.

So, as I sometimes do when I feel led, some time ago I opened up to my family of Facebook friends and shared a piece of my heart from my personal journal in hopes of encouraging someone along their journey.  This is what I wrote:

Ever since that heart-wrenching day in September when I saw our baby's lifeless little body on the sonogram screen, life has been a real challenge. Loss, struggle, pain, lack, depression, and sickness have knocked on my door, and MANY days and nights I've cried in despair. I've wanted to tell God that if I have to go through such a pit just to be more of who He's called me to be and to receive His promises to me, I'd rather just give it all up. I've wanted to say, “If the anointing costs me this much, you can keep it!” But if there's one thing I'm perfectly sure of, it's that even when I don't like what He's doing, I genuinely love the Lord and I trust that He causes all things to work for my good.

It has been a tough season and the enemy has come to detour, discourage, and destroy me in SO many ways. But in the midst of it ALL, I can testify that God has held me together and is continually pulling me through. Without His amazing grace, I'd have lost my mind. But thanks and glory to God who NEVER gives us more than we're able to bear and helps us in times of weakness.

I shared this to say that no matter what you're going through, YOU CAN MAKE IT. It may be some of the hardest challenges you've ever experienced, and you might cry, lose sleep, and feel like giving up. But if you stay with God and hold firmly to His unchanging hand, He will bring you through the flaming fire unscathed.

You have to learn to praise God for the rainbow while right in the middle of the storm. You have to decide that no matter what He takes you through, no matter what you lose, no matter how much you have to hurt, you are STAYING with the Lord. Why? Because your worst days with Him are still better than your best days without Him. Though the winds may blow forcefully against you, you should declare ”I shall not be moved!” That's my stance and I'm sticking to it! Be encouraged, friends; seasons change. For now, embrace where you are, extract the lessons, and dance in the rain! 

It’s so easy to feel like you’re the only one having tough times, but you’re not.  The best of us experience hardship; none of us are exempt.  And sometimes, life can become so challenging that you feel like giving up would be a better option than trying to hang tough and go through so much hurt, pain, struggle, and disappointment.  But as children of God, we weren’t designed to give up.  You and I are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37).  That means, not only do we overcome every obstacle, but we emerge from it much stronger than we were before sustaining it.

You can make it through anything that comes your way. How?  Through God's grace, strength, and power. That’s why it’s imperative to not allow unfavorable circumstances to push you away from God.  Despite how the enemy may play on your emotions or cause you to feel like things will never get better, stay with God.  If it’s one thing we all know for sure, it is that the devil is a liar and there is no truth in him.
If you keep your feet planted upon the Lord, the Solid Rock will hold you steady.  If you keep your hand in His, He will surely lead you through the valley.  And even when the rain is pouring down, He will keep you covered. Just praise Him through it. I’m not telling you what I heard, but this is what I know because He’s done it for me time and time again.

So go ahead and go through.  Go ahead and praise God for the rainbow even though all you see right now is clouds.  Go ahead and dance in the rain as if the sun was shining.  No matter the challenges of your current season, everything is going to be alright.

Don’t be moved by what you see or how you feel; God is still faithful to perfect every single thing that concerns you (Psalm 138:8).

From my heart to yours...

xoxo

Quit Worrying & Trust God

Life can be filled with so much uncertainty.  I’ve definitely found myself wondering what’s next, how things will work out, or if the current season of my life will ever truly make sense.  Just a few days ago I felt such heaviness upon me, brought on by my redundant worrying and trying to figure out all the things I don’t particularly understand about my life right now.

I’m an over-analyzer.  I’ve got it pretty bad.  I’m always thinking and analyzing, and thinking and analyzing some more.  And when I can’t completely figure things out, it sometimes drives me insane.  Or in some cases, weighs me down.

That’s what happened a few days ago.

I’d spent days trying to understand how my now would connect with my next.  I was frustrated, questioning God, feeling overwhelmed, and even shed a few tears.

After about three days of my thoughts playing ring around the rosie in my mind, the weight of it all made me fall down.  Emotionally, that is.  Right there in my room, sitting on the floor between the bed and the wall, I had a God-what-are-you-doing-in-my-life-this-doesn’t-make-sense tantrum.  I’m talking an all out hissy-fit! Tears, yelling, the whole nine.

You should’ve seen me.

Well, maybe not.  But I was a mess, you hear me?!

I told God all about how I felt like the things He’s allowing to happen in my life and all He’s taking me through in this season are all wrong.  “Nothing’s going right!” I blurted through sobs. But He quickly put me in check.  He said to me, “Nothing is wrong with what I’m doing in your life.  It’s the way you perceive it that’s twisted.  I do all things well.”

Ouch!  Instant conviction.

And He didn’t stop there.  He also said, “I never gave you the responsibility of having to figure out how things will work out in your life.  You took that on by choice.  Only I know the plans I have for you, and every single thing I allow in your life, whether you like it or not, works for your good according to my perfect plan, not yours.  Oh ye of little faith.”

Double ouch!

That tantrum quickly turned into tears of repentance.

How could I claim that I love the Lord, I trust Him, and I live by faith, yet doubt His faithfulness just because I’m not fond of His methods?  How could I profess that I trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not to my own understanding, while sending myself into panic over those things I don’t understand?  How could I declare that the Lord will perfect everything that concerns me, but call foul when things seem so imperfect?

Yes, I’m human – as we all are – and feelings are natural and very real.  But should there ever be a time when my feelings override, and almost obliterate, my faith to the point that I’m worrying myself crazy over things I can’t control?  Not if I truly trust God.

The last thing God spoke to me during my time of weakness was this simple, yet profound truth – “I never once asked you to figure it out.  I’ve already worked it all out.  All I ask is that you trust me.”

At this moment, I have renewed confidence in the Sovereign God, whose thoughts and ways are much higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9), and has chosen me to be a joint-heir and share in the glory of His son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17).  He's promised me - us - victory, so every thing will be just fine.

There’s no reason to get lost in uncertainty when you serve a God who is certainly faithful to fulfill every promise He’s spoken to you.
 
Join me in affirming, “Lord, I trust You.”

From my heart to yours...
xoxo