Category: Uncategorized

New Blog: Meeting People Where They Are…

We are all on different journeys in our lives and at different phases of the journey. Some of us may be farther along than someone else in one aspect, while slowly trying to catch up in a different area. It’s easy to expect others to show up for you in different seasons as you anticipate you would show up for them in a similar season. But we are all going through unique situations as we journey through our different life seasons. I’m learning that grace has to be extended in so many different situations and nuances.

I was recently reading this book and the author shared, that while she was sick she had some friends who brought her meals, sent her cards in the mail, went to the hospital, helped around the house, told her jokes and some did absolutely nothing at all! She concluded that no matter how someone showed up for her in a tough season in her life – they would still be their friend.

This book resonated with me because it’s often easy to assume people will show up a certain way to help, but sometimes they don’t! You never know the unknown things people have going on which are not shared with everyone. Even if they don’t have anything going on, we still have to give them grace because maybe they don’t know what to do and that’s okay!

Sometimes God allows certain people to come into your life to pour into you in a really difficult season. However, we get to choose how we show up for others. Meet people where they are and allow God, grace and love to cover the difference. I love handwritten cards, so I’m going to be more intentional in sending cards to others.

How are you showing up for the people in your life?

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Few people want to be a writer and everyone wants to be an editor. I heard someone quote this last weekend and I knew I had to share it. It’s so much easier to have a red pen correcting things than to be the person who wrote it receiving all the feedback. This is why I’m not that fond of some constructive feedback. Let me clarify. I receive feedback from my editors for my books all the time – which I appreciate. However, it’s the unsolicited feedback from others, which can grind my gears at times.

Y’all remember being in school and there was always one or two people doing the bulk of the work for a group project? The other group members chimed in with feedback or stood at the front of the class for moral support for the group presentation. Yeah, still not cool today.😩

While the settings may have changed unsolicited feedback can be tough to digest – especially if others didn’t contribute and they were able to do so. I wish I could say I have mastered receiving feedback, but I haven’t.

However, the two most valuable things heard from a mentor recently were:

• Always assume positive intent from others.
• Don’t allow others to rush you to respond if you need a moment to process what they are saying.

How do you deal with constructive feedback?

Blind spots is a word that defines itself. We all have blind spots, but it is hard for us to see our own. However, we can usually identify a blind spot in a friend or a family member.

The truth is we are often only able to see ourselves outwardly, but others have a perspective of us inwardly and outwardly and see things we couldn’t possibly see. For example, friends can identify areas, which may need improvement. For example, a friend may inform us that we really aren’t that nice or we are easily angered. Ouch! 🤕 While, the news may be shared in love it can sting a little.

Are you receptive to feedback about a blind spot?

Do you receive it in love or are you easily offended? – which is a completely different blog, I’ll save for a later date. 🤔 Lol.

Blind spots can also be revealed to us if we have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, God. Listen, when God tells me about myself, I realize it is only for my good. Sometimes it can be hard to accept, but I’ve learned in my weaknesses he is always strong. And because his love is perfect for us, it alleviates any fears or anxiety I may experience. I use the information he shares as an opportunity to invite him to help.

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever had a moment where you are trying to write and nothing seems to be exactly what you wanted to say to your audience? That’s this blog here. 😩

I’ve deleted and rewritten it at least 4 times within the last hr and nothing seems to stick, so I’m calling this blog, “Untitled”because it’s coming straight from my heart. My prayer is that it helps someone.

Sigh….. blog attempt #5. 5 the number of grace. The more I read the Bible and chat with God I realize I will always be in a position where I’m becoming. I never want to get to a place where I feel like I arrived with God and there’s nothing more for me to learn about him or myself.

I’ve shared often that I grew up in church my entire life and I’ve heard some great sermons. However, some of the most important things I’ve learned are to read and study the Bible for yourself, have a relationship with God, life is better lived within a trusted community and remain in a student posture.

We are all human and none of us have this thing called life completely figured out. Everyone is capable of making mistakes but God gives us grace freely for ourselves and for us to give to others. As I’m writing this I’m thinking – man I have so much work to do to get better at giving others as much grace as I would want them to give me. But the great thing is… I’m encouraged because I know there’s grace for me to do better! ❤️

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38 Amplified

Everything is not as it seems. Some things may appear fruitful and healthy on the outside, but upon inspection or examining it at the core, it isn’t how they initially seemed.

Y’all I love summer fruit. Watermelon, peaches, plums, cherries and so much more. Last week, I ordered some peaches for my weekly grocery pick-up. I was so excited to bite into this delicious fruit or so I thought.

I picked up the fruit and immediately washed it off. After this, I noticed the top of the fruit looked different than normal. It was very dark, almost black and the outside of it was much softer than normal – like squishy. I broke it open and discovered the fruit was rotten. What initially appeared as something with nutritious value wasn’t good for me and could have made me sick.

The moral of the story, everything isn’t as it seems. Examine things past face value. Everything which seems good to you, may not be!

Remember: “People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Scripture: “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

P.S. I included photos of the fruit.