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***“Viewer discretion advised: This blog contains content discussing a shooting incident, which may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.”***

If you know me, then you know I’m only sharing because I feel this may help someone and because I feel led to share.

On Oct 14th I happened to be at the State Fair when the shooting happened in the food court area. While, I wasn’t in the immediate vicinity the fear and panic in that moment could be felt by all there as we ran for safety. While, I won’t recount exact details, for me it was a traumatic experience.

That night, I came home – prayed, journaled and did all the things I knew to do to help me move forward.

Looking back over the past six months I realize the main things which aided in my progress were:

1. Praise and worship (the impact for healing this has on the brain is top tier)
2. Therapy (having someone to listen non judgmentally and provide ways to work through things has been helpful)
3. My community! My friends, family, church prayer team, DTA community have surrounded me like never before. I can’t thank you enough for listening to me and for praying for me.
4.  Sharing my story with others.

 Through that experience, I’ve learned God designed us to be resilient. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can retrain our brains to think about things which are more edifying and positive. One of the books I read was Cleaning up our Mental Mess by Dr. Carolyn Leaf while also binging her YouTube content and listening to Pastor John Hannah’s 4am prayers.

I realize I’m loved by God and he protected me even in that moment. My encouragement for others is to seek help if needed, call on God – he’s always there and never underestimate the power of a good therapist!

”And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.“
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Last week’s Blog: Veggie Tales

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Spoiler Alert: I have a garden! I feel like there are so many wonderful lessons in gardening which I’m excited to learn. Sometimes, I honestly just want to sit outside and watch the plants to see if they grow. 

One of the first lessons I’ve learned is the importance of growing in the right soil. Soil for a plant provides their source of nutrients and water. Without the needed nutrients and soil for their life, plants can’t flourish or grow. 

When I relate this to my own life, I think about how God is my source. In addition to having the right nutrients to feed my body and soul, I have to have water just like plants, and the right resources such as relationships, capital, and food for proper nourishment. 

 How is the soil in your life? Is God your source? Do you have the necessary resources to provide nutrients to your soul and body? 

We are all plants – awaiting the necessary resources to flourish! 

Last week’s Blog: https://www.wrenhowsway.com/lifes-pace/

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I recently purchased a new to me car. My car’s name is L. Beeszy. There are so many safety features on L. Beeszy, which were not on my prior vehicle. One of the safety features I recently noticed was when I’m reversing in addition to the backup camera, if I reverse too fast my car stops for me. The first time it happened, I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what happened – but it has caused me to slow down. 

I was sharing about my car with my sister yesterday and I realized there are so many lessons in life if you choose to lean in. This lesson reminded me that God tries to lead and direct our lives in similar patterns. Sometimes we are going so swiftly that he will orchestrate events and things to happen in such a way to have us stop and recalibrate. There’s a natural rhythm to life to move forward or look backward to look inward if you need to revisit things. Stay with a steady pace – not trying to get too far ahead or going back too much that you must stop to redirect.

Last week’s Blog: Your Joseph Day

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I’ve read and heard the story of Joseph several times; however, this time while reading, it hit me differently.

I encourage you to read the scriptures for yourself. Y’all the Bible is rich, full of wisdom and gems from cover to cover. If you read it with fresh eyes and ask God to speak to you in new ways he will do so.

Okay, back to Joseph. Lol. To give a high-level summary, Joseph was a dreamer and was the son of Jacob and Rachel.

Joseph was Jacob’s favorite because he was conceived when they were older in age. Because he was his dad’s favorite, his dad made him a coat of many colors and his brothers hated that their dad loved Joseph more. One day, Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers in the field with the sheep. They saw Joseph approaching from a distance and made plans to kill him. Instead of killing him they decided to sell him off into slavery and made it appear to their dad he was eaten by wild animals. Crazy right?!!! All of this is in the Bible by the way. (Genesis 37 the entire chapter)

Fast forward to decades later and a lot of skipped events in Joseph’s story – there was a famine in the land and Joseph brothers had to come to where he now worked as Commander of the land in Egypt to get food. When his brothers came to Egypt to purchase food, Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him. After a series of events, Joseph eventually revealed his identity to his brothers with tears in his eyes. 

At that moment, Joseph could have said so many things to his brothers – since they did previously send him away. 

Instead he told them: ”Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.“ Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Like wow! This is purpose. What Joseph went through wasn’t just for him but for him to save so many people including his own family. He wasn’t bitter toward them – he was healed. If you ever want to know what forgiveness looks like – read how it is reflected in the Bible.

I’m sure you are reading this and you are like what’s your point – great question. I’m  getting there.

Maybe you need to reframe your story and look for God’s fingerprints in it. 

Maybe perhaps, you are preserving life! When will you have your day like Joseph to truly heal and reframe your story into purpose?

Scripture References: Genesis 30:22-24; Genesis 37:3-11, Genesis Chapters 42-45

Last week’s Blog: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

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There’s a famous picture from the 2016 Olympics with Michael Phelps in the water swimming to the finish line and another Olympian competing against him in the next lane. The other Olympian turns his head to look at Phelps instead of continuing to look at his finish line.

This blog title also makes me think of Lot’s wife in the Bible (read Genesis Chapter 19 ) also check out my blog Salt Please.

To summarize quickly, the angels gave Lot and his wife specific instructions – Run for your lives, don’t stop and don’t look back. All Lot’s wife had to do was fix her eyes on Jesus. But she looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Whew 😥.

Isn’t that a depiction of our own life?

We turn to the left, right and back to see what others have going.

I’m writing this, but I’m guilty myself. 🙃

We can be winning and successful in whatever field and entity we are working and then we fix our eyes on others instead of keeping them on Jesus.

The word of God reminds us in Hebrews  12:2: We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

In this season we must keep our eyes on Jesus and him alone. Turning and fixating our eyes on others can led to so many other things that God didn’t intend.

As we go through this week and we encounter so many circumstances, will you make the decision to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

Last week’s Blog: Focused

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