Focus Forward

Difficult. Painful. Taxing. Rough.  Getting through the end of a season can be any or all of these things.  Starting from scratch can be equally daunting.  And yet, we must persevere; push through and to everything God has promised.  The dream, the vision cannot birth itself.  We must Lamaze our way to the manifestation of God’s word.  Tired, hurting, depleted we must press through the final stages of our pregnancies and deliver what God has spoken.  While it is tempting to tire of opposition along our way, we cannot “lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” (Galatians 6:9)  When memories of past challenges or failures vie for our attention, we must forget “what lies behind and strain…forward to what lies ahead….” (Philippians 3:13)

God is prepared to deliver.  He has already started to fulfill His word.  We must focus on what’s in front of us and see the new things springing forth in our lives.  He is currently making ways “in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)  He is helping us, He is ushering us to victory.  Though our paths seem impassable, He is with us.  Let me stop stealing from the Bible and type this whole verse out.

Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.         -Isaiah 41:10

God’s got us.  By His grace we’re closing in on the victory He has promised.  With His help we can complete our race and receive the prize(s) we’re due. (Philippians 3:14)  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (4:13) Every word He has spoken will not return to Him [without producing an effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which [He] pleases and purposes, and it shall prosper in the thing for which [He] sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Throughout whatever difficulties we face in completing our existing God-given assignments and launching new ones, we must not lose hope.  “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”  (Hebrews 11:1)  We must persevere, relying on God’s word for faith to finish and faith to start.  Shrug off discouragement, disappointment, and weariness.  Commune with God in prayer, feast on the Word, and keep moving.  Refuse the temptation to ruminate on past or present hardships and focus forward.

It's Been A While

It's been a while.  Almost 5 years. 

Reviewing old blogs reminds of the exciting place I was in way back in 2011, anticipating my next move.  Where would I go?  What would I do next?  How would I realize my dreams in education and ministry?  Well, Haiti called and I answered.  Indianapolis did too and I answered.  I've spent the last 4 and a half years living in Indianapolis, earning a teaching license and a building level administrator license.  (Principal Witherspoon will soon be an appropriate title.) I've also managed to find my way back to Haiti and teach amazing children in 4 distinct school models locally.  Along the way I got fired and hired. I've cried, laughed, become an aunt, made some friends, survived Indy's crazy winters, and developed an unshakeable faith.  It is this faith in God that has kept me sane and sustained.  Throughout all of my triumphs and trials God has kept me.  He has faithfully encouraged and nourished me, pushing and pulling me forward on this predestined path.  And that is what brings me back here. 

While praying about what was next in my life God told me to restart my blog.  I expected something more profound.  (I did hear other things too like resume volunteering in the juvenile justice system.  I started discipling girls in the Marion Co. Juvenile Detention Center last year.  Please join me in prayer for them.) But, yeah, God told me to restart my blog.  I have some suspicions as to why, but only He knows all.  I trust Him and I know that I have many stories to tell.  Principally His, evidenced through my own.  But, yeah, I'm back to writing.  While I cannot tell you the direction I'll take, I can tell you that I'm excited to see where this familiar leg of my race leads.  I have a post ready for publishing immediately following this brief re-introduction entitled, "Focus Forward." As always, I hope it inspires, comforts, and challenges. 

I appreciate all of your support and pray God's best for you including the courage it takes to follow His directions, no matter how grand or seemingly trivial. Follow God. 

Bon voyage...

Nah-Nah-Nah-Boo-Boo

I need structure, boundaries, a PLAN! UNFORTUNATELY for my SANITY, but FORTUNATELY for my PERSONAL GROWTH starting a business, getting it off the ground does not lend itself to predictability. At least not for me...thus far.

I am a planner! Based on the information I have, I make decisions that hopefully yield predictable outcomes. I think in equations. A + B = C, right? Wrong. That's not necessarily the case while starting a business (for the first time or at all.) You may prepare, plan, and promote, but that doesn't guarantee success. And it definitely doesn't guarantee success in any particular amount of time. Again, semi-detrimental to my mental health, but incredible for my personal growth.

Launching my non-profit has focrced me to play in an arena totally unfamiliar to me, to use skills I haven't spent a lot of time developing and parts of my brain I didn't know I had. Submitting to this process has not been easy, but it has been fruitful. I had a hunch, but I now know for certain-I'm not a quitter! This is tough. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I'm determined to make it work. I've also discovered that I can have peace even though I don't have control. You may have already guessed that I'm a control freak, hence the referrences to predictability and equations. Living in the abyss of uncertainty isn't easy for people like me, but thanks to prayer and great mentors, I'm surviving. Perhaps my most notable discovery-fear is just a bully! It has taunted me for years, threatening certain failure if I dared reach for my dreams. Warning me of personal collapse if I crossed the threshold of known to unknown. But Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo, I did it! I'm living by faith! The God who commissioned me has and will continue to provide for me. Whether that be great networking opportunities, food, gas money, or peace of mind-He will continue to give me everything I need. And I will continue this journey-through the definite and the obscure, the rough and the smooth, the triumphs and the failures-to a Life of Purpose!

Between Chapters

I've never done anything like this. It's completely atypical of me. Miss Plan-Every-Detail-Before-Acting, Count-the-Cost, Measure-the-Distance has really done it this time. I quit my job (in the middle of what's being called a RECESSION) with not much of a safety net, 2 months salary to be exact. I, yes, I left the comforts of economic stability in order to pursue my dreams. (Snicker here!) Sounds ridiculous, I know. Especially for a girl who struggled for years to find employment that would at least allow me to pay those pesky student loans, keep the oil changed in my car, and grab an occasional burrito.

I've been running a mentorship organization for girls, also an aspiring non-profit, in my negligible spare time. I've known since I was 18 that my work with this organization would eventually be my full-time gig. I just thought my departure from working for someone else to self-employment would be far less scary. I thought I'd have tons stashed away in a nice little nest egg and a team of investors before I took the GIANT leap. Nope. It had to happen now-God's orders.

Over the next couple of months I'll be tracking my progress as a budding entrepreneur/dare devil. I can't see my way clearly, but I know God will pull me through. Keep tuning in as I pen my adventure. We're sure to learn a lot.

Did I mention that I'm in the process of trying to buy a house or that I leave on a 9 day missions trip to The Gambia on August 1st (I still need to raise $3200, by the way.)?