Glory

“A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy or enough. She knows in her quiet center where God dwells that he find her beautiful, has deemed her worthy, and in him, she is enough."- John Eldredge
 

You are enough. I don't know when we stop believing those words. I don't know if somehow we forgot that we were fearfully and wonderfully made. Maybe we got lost in the weight we gained. Maybe we got lost in the dreams we forgot. Maybe we got lost in all the titles. Maybe we got lost when we changed our name. Maybe we got lost when the plans changed. We are enough. We are beautiful just the way we are. We are worthy. We are glorious. We are his creation. We are his glory.

Fervent

Fervor n.

1. intensity of feeling or expression

2. intense heat

The Bible talks about having a fervent mind, effectual fervent prayers, and possessing a fervent spirit. Our thoughts should be passionate and deliberate. Our prayers should be a profession of our faith. Our spirit should be expectant. I say should because some of us have lost our intensity. Our passionate flames are smoldering. We are still on fire, but our flames can be extinguished by disappointment. Fan the flames. Ignite your passion. Renew your strength. Change your mind. Raise your expectation. Pray effectual fervent prayers. Love fervently. 
 

Family

The definition of family is rapidly changing. Nuclear families have transitioned into single-parent, blended, same-sex, childless, foster, grandparents as parents , never-married families. As the list grows for individuals to identify, it seems we have so many options that some simply refuse to choose. I wonder what the next generation will have to lose because we refuse to make family a priority. We don't take care of home because our homes are broken. Family isn't always about blood, but every family should be rooted in unconditional love. We need to be examples of what true love looks like for our children. We need to show our children that no matter who comprises your family, it should be cherished and valued. Family should be the foundation of our value system and society. We should always make family our first priority.

Everlasting

As a kid, I never understood why "Good Friday" was called Good Friday when so much bad happened. I mean imagine being betrayed by a friend, arrested, beaten, and tried six times in two courts all to be sentenced to death for crimes you didn't commit. To add insult to injury, Jesus died to redeem the very people who deny/denied, reject/ rejected, and betray/betrayed him. My God. Jesus did something that has had an everlasting effect. His death and resurrection are celebrated on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox every year. Every year, stores are filled with bunnies and eggs that have absolutely nothing to do with Christ's resurrection. Every year, non-church goers flood the pews to hear sermons of how Jesus died for our sins on an old rugged cross. Every year, I am reminded of an Everlasting God with an Everlasting love whose sacrifice opened redemption's door to Everlasting life. Happy Good Friday! Happy Passion Week! Happy Easter!

Delight

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."-Robert Frost

I am a poet at heart. Words are my personal delight. For some, delight comes in the form of cupcakes or ice cream. It may be a Sunday Funday or just watching some good old fashioned football. Whatever makes you happy, make sure you take the time to enjoy it. Make someone laugh. Relish in their laughter. Enjoy all of life's delights.  

Desire

Psalm 37:4 (KJV) Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Desires change over time. When I was young, I wanted to be old. When I was single, I wanted to be married. When I was in school, all I wanted was to graduate. We change too, as we receive the desires of our heart. Sometimes, we are grateful for answered prayers. Sometimes, we are grateful for unanswered prayers. Maturity changes our desires. Experience changes our desires. God changes our desires. The scripture says, "delight yourself in the Lord." When you delight yourself in the things that matter to God, your desires will align with the things of God. What is God's desire for your life? Who does God desire you to be? God's desires for you should work in tandem with your own personal desires.

 

Chosen

Do you remember in P.E when we played team sports? The coach would designate a team captain and let them pick their teammates. Kids would scream and yell, "pick me pick me." No one wanted to be the last one picked. There was a sense of pride to be chosen. You knew you were an asset to the team. Some kids brought their athletic prowess, while others simply brought their strength or speed. Interesting enough, many of us are still like those kids screaming, "pick me." We want to be picked for the promotion. We want to be picked as the leader. We want to be chosen. We want to feel apart. We want to feel special. We want to feel loved. I've got news for you. God chose you. John 15:16 says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” First Peter 2:9 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” You are loved. You are special. You are God's chosen.