To Be or not To Be

This past Sunday I had the privilege to speak on a panel at our church for Mother's Day.  I was with two awesome ladies, Susan Allen and Jodi Shippey.  It was nervewracking and scary to willingly let people know my heart.  I had intentionally been guarding my heart to keep out hurt, pain and having the bottom fall out from under me, again.  As you know from previous blogs that God has been working on that.  

For awhile now God has been has telling me to find my identity and validation in Him.  To not be dependent on a calling, postiton, job, affirmation or approval but knowing I am His, He loves me and we're good.  A couple of weeks ago the pastors and their wives went to a conference in Dallas and the speakers were hearing and saying the same thing.  God wants us to rely on Him for who we are!!

So, back to last week.  I found it strangely freeing to let people know me.  I have wrestled this week with my doubts and insecurity about saying too much, not enough or saying it differently.  It has been a hands-on lesson on what God has been preparing in me.  This week I had to walk out being secure in Him and know that He is bigger than any mistakes and not sweating it.  (Thank you to those who had encouraging words for me!) 

God has put something unique and special in each of us and He wants us to walk that out in our lives.  When we live out who we are, not what others want us to be or what we are expected to be, but the deep-down-honest us, it brings joy to our Father's heart.  I picture Him slapping the angels on the back, saying "Look at her go!"  I want to in walk in all He had in mind when He was forming me.  

It is only, and I mean this with all my heart, by God's grace and mercy in my life that I am who I am today and not a complete basket-case.  He has been faithful to me and never let me go.  Without Him in my life someone would have found me in a corner surrounded by chocolate wrappers.

No matter where you are in life, where you are in your walk with Him, what you are afraid of, God is there for you!  He will catch you as you jump into the unknown.  

I want you to be all God created you to be.  I want to join Him in celebrating who you are!  I pray for the strength and courage to face those things that are holding you back.  For wisdom and accountability to practically walk out those changes.  And the freedom to allow yourself to dream and hope that there is more for you than what you see right now.

You go!!!

All my love ~ 
Jodi xoxo