Zion
The first time I heard anything about Zion was in reference to the city of God. Then, it was Lauryn Hill. Next, it was Bob Marley. Lastly, it was the Matrix. All were references to a sacred place or thing. For David, it was Jerusalem. For Lauryn, it was her son. For Bob, it was Ethopia. In the Matrix, it was the last human city. Where is your piece of heaven on Earth? Where is your sacred place? Where is your place of worship? Where is your Promised Land? Where is your Zion?
Yoke
Most of us could use some rest. We carry the weight of responsibility, positions, and expectation on our shoulders. We all need to take a break and rest our weary souls. How do we lay our cares on God? We pray and leave our concerns on the altar. How do we rest? Have faith that God will take care of you. Allow the peace of God to infiltrate your heart and mind. When we trust God, it’s easy for Jesus to take the wheel.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Willing
Are you willing? Are you able? Are you ready? Sometimes, the major decisions in our life have more to do with our mindset than our capabilities. We weren't there yet. We couldn't wrap our mind around it. We weren't mature enough. We hadn't lived long enough. We didn't trust God enough. We didn't trust ourselves enough. Our faith was shaken. We were scared. We were afraid. It happens, but in order to get where God wants us to be, we have to assuage our doubts and fears. We have to take the first step. We have to be willing.
Well Done
Matthew 25:21 (KJV) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The ultimate goal is to hear God say, "Well done." In order to achieve this, I must recognize that my first title is servant. My life should be a life of service. Every other role in my life is secondary, yet still connected to the other areas I must serve. I am a servant of God. I called to serve my husband, my family, and my job. I am not an owner, but a steward. The aim is to be faithful over the areas of my life God has blessed me to serve. This requires a change of perspective and a great deal of humility. Have you accepted that even as a CEO, a wife, a husband, a supervisor, a manager, and an entrepreneur that your first calling is to serve? Do you recognize that ownership is not stewardship? Everything belongs to God...even you. Lastly, do you recognize the blessing of being called to be a servant? Remember, the goal is to hear God say, "well done my good and faithful servant."
For your listening pleasure: https://youtu.be/lgybJ6h5YDA
Vulnerable
Self-preservation is a natural instinct. It keeps us out of harm's way. It is our own internal "spidey sense." If you've ever had your heart broken, love can make you a little gun shy. You become protective of your emotions. You don't want to fall in love too quick or too fast. You want to take things slow. Falling in love can be terrifying. Vulnerability is seen as weakness. You isolate yourself and your heart from the very thing you say you want. You find fault in everything and everyone. Being vulnerable is the only way to get what you truly desire.
"What makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful." - Dr. Brené Brown
Understanding
I knew I was officially in Atlanta when I saw the So So Def billboard on 85. So So Def crept into my life through Cross Colours, backward jeans, and Kriss Kross. Da Brat would take me back to my summers in the Chi. Jagged Edge would be the soundtrack of my life. Xscape taught me how to kick it, who I could run to and understanding.
Music has a way of infiltrating our psyche. It can influence us in many ways. We all have a need to be understood. Understanding is achieved through communication. Listening. Digesting. Try to see someone else's point of view. Try to hear their heart. Try to see their intentions. Try to understand.
What I need from you is understanding
How can we communicate
If you don't hear what I say
What I need from you is understanding
So simple as 1, 2,3
Understanding is what I need
Transformers
I always enjoy looking at old pictures to see how much things have changed and to see how much I've grown. We have the ability to look back and evaluate our lives. Sometimes, it is hard to see our progress. We can't see the character changes. We can't see our maturation. Despite our inability to see, we've changed. We've grown. We've transformed. Congratulate yourself on what you did accomplish. Maybe you didn't lose those ten pounds, but you left that toxic relationship. Maybe you didn't buy that house, but you did get your finances in order. Change is a constant in our life. Every day we have the ability to transform. Every day we have the ability to change our trajectory in life. So, transform and roll out!