Afterschock

I've never experienced an earthquake, short of the ride at Universal Studios. I've slept through the ones that occurred in Georgia. I'm more of wind and rain, hurricane versus the ground is moving type girl. From what I've heard, sometimes the aftershocks are worse. Aftershocks are small earthquakes that occur after the initial quake. They often cause more damage because of the already weakened infrastructure.

We experience aftershocks in our life all the time. We experience trauma and tragedy. Sometimes, they seem to occur in cyclic manners. We get overwhelmed and depressed because it all seems like too much. We are shaken to our core by unexpected deaths and unforeseen circumstances, but they continue to happen. They continue to shape us and not break us. Difficulty tests our strength. It creates fortitude. Aftershocks prepare us for the unexpected. They keep us alert and vigilant.

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Purpose

I can't imagine what God felt like to realize that he was born to die. We are all born to die, but to know that you will die tragically for a crime you didn't commit...that's hard. His death had a purpose. His pain was not in vain. His life was a ministry. Many of us don't understand why our paths have taken us through the valley instead of the mountaintop. We don't understand our pain. We don't know why we hurt or why we hurt others. Life seems like there is no rhyme or reason.

There is a purpose in every tear, in every misstep, in every mistake, and in every regret. There is a lesson in your heartache. There is a seed of maturity in the soil of your doubts and fears. There is a ministry in your series of unfortunate events. There is life in your spiritual death. There is purpose in your pain. 

Zealous

What do you have an active interest in? What are your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your downtime? Where would you volunteer? What cause would you donate to? What organizations do you support? The answer to these questions is where your passion lies. Your passion is a byproduct of your purpose. Pursue your passion until your passion pursues you. Be zealous!

Kairos

There are key moments in our life that define us. It could be the day you graduated from high school or college. It could be the day you had your first child. It could be the day you got married.  It could be the day someone close to you died. Victories and tragedies have a way of shaping our lives. Some events catapult us into destiny, while others cause us to take pause. Kairos is an Ancient Greek word meaning the right, critical or opportune moment. We might not always recognize these as kairos moments, but they are crossroads. These moments have the ability to shift our lives. Take advantage of every opportunity given to you. Don't just knock, kick the door of opportunity open. Seize the moment. Take a chance. Live!

Vision

Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 

It seems easy. Get an idea. Write it down. Have a dream. Write it down. Most of us use our phones to help keep us on track, anyway. We make "to do" and grocery lists. We set calendar reminders, and some of us even schedule text messages. Fancy! Then, why don't we prioritize our ideas or our vision? Why don't we invest in ourselves? Why don't we support other visionaries? I'm sure the reasons may vary. However, we should consciously cultivate our ideas. Who knows? They could be an additional income stream and potentially grow into a thriving business. Write the vision! 

Perfect Peace

I've probably had more conversations about race in America more this week than I have had in a long time. I've been reminded of America's dark history that we still refuse to confront. I've seen pictures that resemble the lynch mobs of 1919. I've seen things reminiscent of Jim Crow and Reconstruction, and it saddens me. In 2017, we are seeing the same racial atrocities that occurred centuries ago. It seems like we are moving backward. We cannot afford for history to repeat itself.       Peace usually follows war. There is no need for peace when there is no violence and chaos. As much as we may not understand why all these things are happening, maybe this is necessary for us to finally address America's original sin; not greed, but racism. Maybe this is the catalyst for the change we want and desire. Maybe this is America's necessary evil to achieve perfect peace. 

Position

Sometimes, I feel like I should be further along than I am. I tend to forget my past accomplishments and only focus on what's not working now. It's easy to forget yesterday's victory. It's easy to not notice all the progress you've made. Sometimes, we forget the destination and only see our current position. Our perspective on our position needs to change. Think of your position as preparation for your next victory. You are gaining skills you will need in the next season of your life. Maybe you are being taught a lesson in patience. Maybe you are in the midst of a season of rest because you never take the time to when you are busy. Maybe you are recovering from a setback or a breakup. Whatever position you are in, there is a purpose. You may not understand it now, but in time you will. Learn today's lesson. Gain a new perspective, and play your position.