Coaching at RashidatO.com | Social Activism at Whereveryougolove.com
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This trip feels different than my Race, but in a good way. It is really cool that I spent the last segment of my Race asking God to help me write down my calling. I have not put that calling into a pretty little statement, but I was able to write down my ‘wants’ as known as my ‘values’.
I value mobilizing young people to do big things for the Lord and His kingdom. I value discipling young people in their walk with Jesus so that they can develop a mature relationship with Christ rather than a mature relationship with legalism and religion. I value the adventure that comes with living a life with Christ that takes one to places they’d never imagine and the opportunity to model that adventurous life with Christ for new believers.
As I stepped off the plane in India, I was excited and in awe of what God is doing in my life. It still very much amazes me that I am in India! But God I’m also in awe of all that He is working on in me as well.
I’ve come to learn over the last year that one of my giftings and strengths is responsibility. It’s one of those things I’ve always knew I was good at, but I’ve never thought of it as a gift because the devil had perverted my perspective of this gift. Over many experiences, I learned that being responsible and using my gift well was rewarded with more work rather than appreciation; that when I took care of someone or something that was not my responsibility the reward was for the work to be assigned to me rather than correction of the person who was irresponsible; and that no matter how hard I loved or how well I worked it would be rewarded with negativity.
In essence the devil perverted by gift with having inappropriate boundaries; He’s a sneaky one!
Responsibility is a part of my DNA. It is a natural response in life for me to fill in the blanks when there is a gap or even a perceived gap. So even though it hurt to use my gift, I never stopped nor did I understand how to stop or be different. This created a fight or flight mechanism in me.
In recent seasons of responsibility, I have come to recognize that when I am really stressed or feel threatened by the one’s I am responsible for or serving that my response is to first take on all the negativity, next to usher that person to safety, and then turn to take care of myself. When I turn to take care of myself I am hurt and there my options seem to be fight or flight. All I’ve wanted, all we all want, is protection and safety, but in that moment I was not realizing that my response to fight or flight from the situation as a way to protect myself is not the same as processing the hurt, healing, and creating better boundaries to guard my heart.
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 ESV
It has been a huge revelation for me to see and understand this sabotage cycle in myself.
So how in the world did I end up back in a leadership position with all this responsibility?!?
Because Papa refuses to let the devil win or have me; Because Jesus has already died on the cross for my freedom; Because Holy Spirit is tending to the garden of my soul removing weeds and replacing them with beautiful and lush foliage so amazing that it could only be created by the Holy Trinity.
So here I am in India. And while my last season was hard and pull of weeding and pruning I step into this season different and better than before.
I got to speak to one of my neighbors as soon as I got back to Atlanta and about an hour after I accepted to lead this team. Glowing she said to me “I am so proud of you. The fact that God has you doing this right here, right now, so soon means that God has prepared you! You are ready!”
I wish that I can explain the glow around her as she said this statement. Her awe of God, confidence in the message, and her sharing it inspired and overwhelmed me!
“I am ready… I am ready to walk in the next level of beauty that God has created in me!”
Thank you, Lord, for the hard times that are full of reseeding, moving dirt, digging up, and removing the old foliage to make space for the new foliage that you plant within us.
Thank you for making me new.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
As I head into this next season, I am asking that you prayerfully consider supporting this mission effort to change the lives of people in India as I partner with Holy Spirit to change the lives of the young people on my team.
My prayer goal and request is that every person on my team “Begin Their Day Well” by spending time with the Lord hearing His voice, speaking to Him, and reading His Word.
Financially, I pray that you will commit to a monthly donation of $50 for September, October, and November.
I also pray that every time you read my or our the team’s blogs that you are blessed and encouraged by what God is doing in our lives and that you see the reflection of all the amazing things that God is doing in your life as well.
Wherever you go… Love…
