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2020 Mid- Year Evaluation

Posted on By wrenhowsway

This year has come and snatched our edges and gotten us right on together. I thought 2020 was going to be my record-breaking year for traveling, boy was I wrong.

It seems that everything has changed and somethings will never be the same as it was prior to March of 2020.

6 months is usually the point in a relationship where you decide if you want to pursue the relationship or say Nah I’m good – Imma head out! ????

In all honesty, this has been a challenging 6 months for us nationally. Some have suggested throwing the entire year away; however, I have an alternative solution. Let’s not throw the year away because all of this stuff needs to be discussed and addressed. If we keep brushing off racism, systematic issues, sin, police brutality, and a list of other things – they will continue to exist.

The time has come for us to:

1. Pray and draw near to God. Have a personal relationship with him. I’ve fasted more this year than I have in a long time.

2. Have conversations with others about injustice.

3. Support positive causes that are bringing about change, whether that is through giving financially or volunteering.

4. Be apart of the solution – not everyone has to protest, but we should all be doing something that works for us.

Be honest with yourself and figure out what are some action steps for you. We have a little more than 6 months to go before 2020 ends. How you spend the next 6 months matter. We can either learn from the past or spend the next 6 months complaining. Choose wisely what narrative you will share with others.

Question of the Day: How will you spend the rest of 2020?

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 KJV

 

 

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Do Not Count Me Out

Posted on By wrenhowsway

When God tells you to do something, there are days that you experience fear. Fear of not being enough, not being qualified or being worried of what others will say of your past. I’ve learned from living life just a little bit and with encouragement from friends – that people will ALWAYS have something to say – good, bad and indifferent.

So I’ve learned the most important thing is to learn what God says about you and keep it moving. Because I know God can use who and what he wants to use despite your past.

I’ve listed some of my favorite stories in the Bible of who God used, this list doesn’t account for all of them – so you have to read the Bible for yourself to find out more!

Imperfect People used in the Bible

1. Moses killed someone (Exodus 2:11-22) and still got to see the glory of God. (Exodus 22:12-23) I can’t phantom seeing the King of Kings. #howsway
2. Abraham lied and called his wife his sister (Genesis 12:10-20) and was still the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5).
3. Issac lied and called his wife his sister (Genesis 26:1-11) and still was in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:2).
4. Rahab was a harlot and still saved her family from being harmed (Joshua 6:25).
5. David slept with his soldiers wife and then sent her husband to the front line to have him killed. David was still a man after God’s own heart (2 Samuel 11).

6. Jonah disobeyed God and was swallowed by a great fish. Once he was obedient, he helped the entire city of Nineveh repent and turn back to God (the book of Jonah).
7. Saul persecuted the saints (Acts 8:1-3) After his conversion to Paul the Apostle (Acts 9:1-31), he wrote majority of the New Testament.

To sum it up: Do what God says and stop worrying about people and your past.

Relationships

But…Be Obedient

Posted on By wrenhowsway

I was often the child that used conjunction when my mom instructed me to do something. It’s not my proudest moment, but believe me, I never had the last word in any conversation. My mom always won, all the conversations hands down! I could often get out the word’ ’but’. However, that would be my last word for the rest of the night. You had to be to experience what happened next to me. ??

Fast- forward until today, I can think of several times when God asked me to do something and shamefully I have a ‘but’. Like who am I kidding, he clearly knows what’s best for all of us. He’s all-knowing, all-powerful, omnipresent, and has our entire lives mapped out, ‘but’ we often think he needs our help. Listen, I’m guilty of this too, ‘but’ I’m learning to listen because I see where I’ve taken myself on detours in life from thinking I know best.

Thankfully, because God is amazing, he can counteract any of my mistakes and use them for his good and for my purpose. #howsway ‘But’ can you imagine how much further in life you and I would be if we would have listened the first time? #ouch? He literally said, what he said in his word. Point blank period. He doesn’t need our help at all, ‘but’ if you are like me and try to help out anyway – just remember we have the best father. He knows what he is doing, we can rest in him and be at peace.

Scripture of the Day: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:19

growth

Heart Check

Posted on By wrenhowsway

I’ve been reading about King David.

Side note: David is one of my favorites to read about in the Bible because he messed up a lot, but he had a repentance heart, asked God for forgiveness, and was still considered a man after God’s own heart.

Storytime: I was chatting with a friend a few months ago and I was sharing that I was going to attend a particular event. During the conversation, I mentioned twice that I need to make sure I looked cute, I mean who doesn’t love a good outfit. Lol. In hindsight, it sounds minor, but the event was for a celebration for someone else and I shouldn’t have been the focus. The focus should have been on celebrating that person’s accomplishment. I pondered about this when I was chatting with my friend and said I needed to check my heart and my motives.

While I was reading the scripture during my devotion below, God reminded me of this conversation, and immediately, I had to check my motives.

Were my motives pure?

Was I planning to attend the event to be noticed or was I going because I really wanted to celebrate the person?

I had to check my heart at that moment – because it can be deceitful and lie if allowed.

All of our motives should be pure.

We were made to glorify God and not ourselves. Sometimes you may have to stop and examine your heart and check your motives. Am I doing this for money, fame, recognition, or for God? Only we can examine our true motives and intentions of something.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

Psalms 139:23 KJV

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Isolation

Posted on By wrenhowsway

The cool thing about Rona is, although we are going through an uncertain season, we aren’t going through this season alone. We have the best father going through this with us – God. He promised he would never leave us nor forsake us. Subsequently, our neighbors, coworkers, friends, family and even you reading this are all feeling some type of effect from Rona. This is crazy!!! Nothing like this has ever happened before that I can think of in my 31 years of life. ?

While it may feel like isolation to some due to the house restrictions, we are only physically distanced; however, we can find so many ways to connect with others socially. God created us to operate within a community, so during this time stay connected to others. As this is a temporary new normal, we are all adjusting. So be patient with yourself and others.

For example, I love going to church, but I’ve also embraced being in the comfort of my bed, watching multiple services on Sunday and have the ability to snack while in church. #winning This past Sunday – I may or may not have eaten most of the crackers I was supposed to use for communion. ?#dontjudgeme

In addition, I’ve also made attempts to keep in touch with my friends and family through group text, virtual game nights, text messages, zoom calls, bible study conference calls and so much more.

There are so many ways to stay connected and push through the feeling of isolation.

Question of the Day: How are you staying connected to others?

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Psalms 133:1 KJV

Self Care

Learning to Just Be…

Posted on By wrenhowsway

Honesty moment: I struggled writing this week. I knew what I wanted to talk about – but I was unsure of how I wanted to structure it since I thought the topic was basic. I was reminded that a message should be simple enough that even a child understands. So here it is.

Before Rona restrictions took place, my calendar was full of events, trips, and dinners. There were weeks in which I had no free weekends for the entire month, particularly the month of March. #exhausting

My mind was often going full-speed and I could be at one place thinking about what  time I would have to leave there to get to the next event on time.

One of the things that Rona has taught me is to be present today and appreciate the gift of life even more.

Storytime: I was driving this week to pick up food and I was so excited to be outside of the house. While riding, I thought about the many times I’ve complained about not wanting to go places because it was too far or because I knew I was going to sit in traffic. This was the first time in a long time were I was able to drive and just enjoy being. Although I’m not fond of the situation surrounding us, I will enjoy just being and go through this season with thankfulness.

While being may look different for us, I’ll share with you some of the things I’ve done to just be and will do going forward.

My Shares of Just Being

1. Spending time reading and dissecting God’s word – right now I’m reading the entire bible and taking a deep dive into the 4 gospels

2. Leaving room open on my calendar – if my calendar is busy, I’m leaving no room for God to intervene.

3. Sitting Outside on the Patio – I’m able to relax and calm myself by being in a peaceful environment after a long stressful day.

4. Making a playlist – Often time I have to go to events that are far, instead of complaining I’ll make a bomb playlist and enjoy the scenery.

What are some practical things that you are implementing or will implement after Rona ends?

“I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls.”Jeremiah 31:25 MSG