HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT TO SUCCEED?

I ran across this video on success today that really made me think about a few things.  You know, there have been so many times that I've wanted to succeed, but wasn't willing to put in the work.  We all want the outcome without the work.  We want the glory, but we don't worry about the story behind it.  We want someone to hand us the fame and the fortune.  We aren't willing to give anything up, but we want everything around us to change.  We believe that the date simply being the 1st of January will cause our lives to change. 

But, how badly do we want change? 

How badly do you want to succeed?  What, if anything, are you willing to give up in order to have everything you've ever wanted?  How important is it to you to find out what you were created to do in this world and who you were created to be?  How important is it to you to find out who God is and why He put you on this earth?  Isn't that more important than that next interview, that next party, and searching for that next relationship?  Without knowing your own purpose, who you are, how much your life is worth, you don't even know what direction you should be headed in.  Are you interviewing for the right job, hanging with the right people, or settling for Mr. Wrong?

We all want the big changes to see big success.  But, are we willing to do anything about it?  You want to see your life change?  Seek God.  You want to stop wondering if this is all that life has to offer?  Seek God.  You want to stop wondering why year after year your life never seems to change?  Seek God.  Ask Him who He is.  Ask Him who He created you to be.  Want Him more than you want your next breath.  Show Him that you are going to sit there until He reveals Himself to you.  I promise you won't be sorry.  Your life will change.  That, my friend, is a guarantee.  BUT, YOU HAVE TO WANT HIM IN ORDER TO HAVE SUCCESS.  HE IS SUCCESS.

Simply, "ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you."  Now, I'm not asking you to be like the Beyonce's and 50 Cents of the world.  I'm asking you how much it means to you to be successful.  How important is it to you to live the one and only life you are given, to the fullest?  It's time for us all to wake up, get up, and get on with it.  Enough excuses.

THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN

Reading Ecclesiastes 1 today, it amazed me that there really is nothing new under the sun.  The earth recycles water every day.  Streams flow into rivers, rivers into oceans, ocean water evaporates, becomes rain, fills streams, rinse and repeat.  Winds flow continuously around the earth.  Seasons change.  Generations come and go.  The sun rises and sets so beautifully each day.  (Oh, what a sistah wouldn't give to watch the sun set over the ocean right now).

But, even our trends in politics and various religions have all been seen before.  It's just the same old stuff rearing its head again.  That's why I love that saying, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."  Because it's all happened before.  Maybe the president has a different face, but we've seen his politics before.  Maybe it's a "New Age", but it's just a bunch of old recycled ideas from various religions before.  Maybe it's a new song, but you know how often they sample old songs?  Music has been around FOREVA!

So, anyway, sometimes when I'm going through things or wondering what my future holds, I think about the fact that there is nothing new under the sun.  Even if I screw up, God isn't surprised by it.  He's not up there biting his nails trying to figure out how He's going to get me out of this one 'cause He sure didn't see this one coming.  He knows.  And He's in control of all of this going on down here.  Sometimes I forget that.  But, since we have free will, we have to let Him have control.  That's the hard part, because we actually believe that somehow we have complete control of our lives until we hand it over to Him.  Yeah, right.  Last time I checked, no one here decided when they were going to be born, how they were going to look, what color their skin was going to be, or what day they were going to die.

BUT, God is in control.  Nothing surprises Him.  He knows exactly what's going on.  You know, we've tried to pretend that we're in control and inventing new amazing things.  Like airplanes.  Um, sorry, birds have been flying LONG before airplanes were ever invented.  Or, satellites?  Nope.  Not sure if you noticed, but the moon has been circling around the Earth for quite a while now.  Nuclear fusion and fission?  Nice try.  But, the moon and stars have been doing that since waaaay before you existed on this earth.  People try to mimic God and take the credit, but we can never outdo Him.

There truly is nothing new under the sun.  And God is still in control, no matter what's going on and how bad it looks.  He's still in control.  I find comfort in that.  I hope you do, too. 

FINDING YOUR PURPOSE

francescomarino.org

I had an awesome conversation this morning with the Lord about how hard it is for each of us to find our purpose.  Then, once we've found it, we have such a hard time believing in it.  So many times we ask other people to tell us what our purpose is.  But, after going that route, I've found that everyone has their own opinion.  It usually just leads me into more confusion.  And I end up overwhelmed with being even more lost than I was BEFORE I started asking people.

This morning, I asked the Lord about support from others.  Like, are we to walk this road alone, or are we supposed to lean on others for support to live this life?  Where is the balance?

Well, He countered with an awesome anatomy analogy (gotta love that alliteration).  Anyway, we spoke about the liver.  When the liver wakes up in the morning, it doesn't go around to all of the other body parts and ask them what his function is going to be that day.  He knows that he's going to help break down some fats, maybe filter some harmful stuff out and make some urine, make a little cholesterol, convert some glucose, ya know.....the usual stuff.  Again, he's not asking the esophagus what his purpose is.  He's taking his place and doing what he was created to do.

Now, the liver isn't acting alone either.  I mean, he does depend on the veins and capillaries to give him stuff to filter.  He depends on the digestive system to give him the fat to break down, and so on.  So, he can't just act alone.  AND, he also can't decide one day that he wants to be a heart because hearts get all the fame and attention.  See where I'm going with this?  Cause if he tries to be something he's not, the body does not function properly. 

A healthy body works together so well, it's fascinating.  But, it's because every part does what it was created to do.  So, when all parts are working together for one common purpose, in the role they were created for, magic happens.

I listened to a sermon on OasisLA.org this weekend and the leader stated, "TAKE YOUR PLACE".  So many of us have no idea what we are created for.  So we ask other "parts", fumble around based on other people's opinions and end up confused and overwhelmed.  Some of us know what our place is, yet we're still going around asking others to confirm it for us.  And some of us want to be like someone else and we refuse to take our place.  But, you cannot take someone else's place. 

YOU WERE MADE TO TAKE YOUR PLACE.

So, if you ask anyone what your purpose is, ask God.  He will make sure you take your place.  If you know what your purpose is, believe God and take your place.  You are a child of God.  You have a specific  and unique contribution to make in this world.  And NO ONE, NO ONE, could EVER take your place!

Col 3:23-24
     And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:  for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Much love!

A Breath of Fresh Air

Recently, I asked the Lord to breathe some new life into my life.  This picture is a great illustration of Him doing just that.  I felt like I was growing stagnant.  I felt like I was just sitting in fear with no way out.  I felt like I needed a push and I was at my wit's end.  Fo real!

So, I asked the Lord to give me a breath of fresh air, to give me something along this journey to wake up the things that were inside of me, to give me the push that I needed in the right direction.  And, as always, He was right there, ready to breathe life into me.  But, I had to exhale the old air out.  You ever try to take a breath in when you're all full of hot air (pun intended)?  Yeah, it doesn't work.  Again, I'm learning that you have to let go of the old to bring in the new.

God's word says that "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.  Old things are passed away.  Behold all things are become new." So, how am I going to bring in the new if my lungs are filled with old, stagnant air?  I couldn't.  It just won't work.

So I had to let go.  I had to let go of what people might think.  I had to let go of thinking I'm too old or too new or too smart or maybe not smart enough.  I had to let go of fear of the unknown and simply trust that when I exhaled, the Lord would be there giving me more air to breathe. 

AND HE DEFINITELY SHOWED UP!

Just a few weeks ago, I took a big leap into something I'm so passionate about, it gives me butterflies.  I've now officially entered the fashion industry and I'm so stoked, it's ridiculous.  There is only one other thing (occupationally) that I love and it's music.  But, I'm excited to see how they both come together.

Today, I'm thankful for a job that allows me to be creative, to wake up parts of myself that I never even knew existed.  I'm thankful for a step in the direction that leads me toward God's calling on my life.  And I'm thankful that God is who He is all the time, without fail.  I'm so grateful that I get to maybe give women a glimpse into how beautiful they are.  Maybe I can help them see just a tiny bit of what God sees when He sits and watches us so lovingly.  I'm thankful that God has put this calling on my life.  And I'm blessed with the opportunity to answer that call serving Him.

Ephesians 4:1-6
     ...walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling , One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Witness A Blessing

A funny thing happened at the restaurant last night...

Amidst all of the chaos of a crazy Saturday night at the old Bonefish Grill, I was blessed with the opportunity to see someone be blessed.  While I was serving last night, I walked up to yet another table full of guests eagerly awaiting their portion of Bang Bang Shrimp.  I thought it would be just another normal table, but my 'hello, how are you all doin' tonight' was greeted with an equally enthusiastic 'hello' and the brightest blue eyes you've ever seen.  This little girl who was probably about 10 or 12 years old had a light in her eyes that is hard to find in this world.  Her smile was beaming with excitement.  Grinning from ear to ear, she couldn't wait to ask for the Bang Bang shrimp.  And what made her even more special was that she had this joy even though the sparse amount of blonde hair on her head told me that her light was shining thru a struggle with cancer.

As dinner went on, this little girl proved she was genuine, authentic, funny, and truly joyful, and I got the chance to be her server.  HOW COOL IS THAT?  For one brief hour, I got to be a part of an experience that I found out later was a celebration because her numbers were up and she was able to actually go out in public.  She chose Bonefish for her celebratory dinner and she had macaroni and cheese.  I LOVE IT!

So, just to top it all off, another server came over and told me that his table was taking care of the check for my favorite guests EVER (yep, they definitely get that title, hands down).  The coolest part?  The people paying for the check didn't want them to know who did it.  Wow.  So, I went over to my favorite little family, took a deep breath, and told them that their check was paid for.  They were so happy and I turned away from the little girl so that she wouldn't see me cry (I'm a girl, okay...geez). 

Anyway, the little girl and her family left, so I went to tell the guests who paid 'thank you.'  They humbly replied that they knew that family probably couldn't afford dinner, so it was the least they could do.  Well, that made a sistah have to cry a little bit more (exit, blubbering mess).  But, it's something that I won't ever forget.

So, today, I'm just thankful that I got to witness something amazing come out of something that is so very tragic.  Light shines in the darkness.  And this little girl's light truly shines so bright. 

Romans 8:28--And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

What Does Your Handprint Look Like?

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659

Question of the Day:  If today were your last day on earth, what unique contribution or legacy would you leave behind?  What does your imprint look like?

You know, just like our unique fingerprints and our unique signatures, each of us has something that only we can contribute to this world.  I may not be the best singer, pianist, guitar player or designer in the world, but I am definitely the best at being Ebony Louise Price.  And I am the only one that was specifically put on this earth to play that role.

I've found myself comparing my gifts to others more times than I can count.  I mean, Jennifer Hudson can sang!  So can Aretha and so can Yolanda Adams.  I can't sing like them.  Why?  'Cause I'm not supposed to.  I'm supposed to sing like me.  So, why waste my time trying to be like them?  I'm just going to get frustrated and disappointed.  I could even go as far as impersonating one of them.  But, really, I don't want to be known as "that girl that impersonates Aretha," even if I could sing like her.

Other examples:  Diane Von Furstenburg, Roberto Cavalli, Karl Lagerfeld, Galliano.  I love their designs.  But, what they do has already been done by them.  I'm not trying to be like them.  I'm trying to be the best me that I can be.  I'm trying to live in the Lord's will and that's it.

So, just like our fingerprints, we have something unique to contribute to this world.  We weren't made by mistake (even if our parents didn't plan us).  God has always had a plan in mind for us.  

In Jeremiah 1:5, the Lord tells Jeremiah, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

WHAT?!  THE LORD HAS HAD A PLAN FOR US ALL ALONG!  HOW COOL IS THAT?!

So, we work on our skills.  Millions of women can sew, and make jewelry and play music.  But, what happens when I take those skills and filter them thru His Spirit and the earthen vessel God gave me?  God only knows.  But a sistah is fo real gonna find out.

So, let's work on our unique voices, our individual hanprints that God has blessed us with.  What's yours?

This picture reminds me of the fear we talked about last time. Sometimes the things that we would love to accomplish seem so overwhelming, like a hurdle that you can't get over. Kind of like when you stare up at a skyscraper and you start to feel dizzy when your body realizes just how tall that dang building really is. It's like we all have these BIG DREAMS that we would love to see come true. But, the more we think about them and what it would take to get there, we get dizzy and decide it's just too overwhelming. That is the point where I find myself stuck, stagnant, disappointed, and, frankly, depressed.

Sometimes it feels like a tug-of-war, to have your heart and your mind able to see where you want to go, but to be overwhelmed by what it will take to get there. Should I stay here, wondering what could have been, wishing I would have at least tried, looking for something to replace that nagging feeling that something is wrong? Or should I start taking steps in the direction my heart wants to go, where God wants me to be, where I may not be accepted of everyone, but favored by Him? Dizzying, isn't it?

So, what's worse, facing the unknown and climbing to the top of that beautiful building OR that horrible sinking feeling down here on the ground that tells me this is not where I'm supposed to be? Maybe I'll ask the other people down here on the sidewalk with me. They'll convince me to take the low road with them. Or, maybe, just maybe, it's time to see what that giant skyscraper has for me.

SCARY. I KNOW! But, no building was built without a way to get to the top. Yes, you may have to take a ton of stairs, but there's a way to get there. Sure, it won't be easy, but won't it be worth it to get there? And, honestly, we only have two options: You either face your fears or you don't.

THERE IS NO TRY!

You are either standing on the sidewalk or walking into the building. You are either pursuing your dreams or you're not. You're either facing your fears or you're not.

Here's what's up. I can't stand to be down here on the sidewalk any more. My curiosity won't let me wonder what could have been for the rest of my life. I refuse to turn my back on God who is calling me from the top floor of Ebony, Inc. I choose to walk by faith and not by sight, 'cause honestly, I've seen all the stuff down here on the sidewalk and I'm kinda bored with it. I'm tired of making excuses. Now I know that fear has gotten in the way. So enough with over-analyzing it. One person called this THE PARALYSIS OF ANALYSIS. I know that it's fear that's the problem. Okay. Cool. Now get on with it. Don't get stuck in analyzing the situation. MOVE ON!

Okay, so I've entered the building. I've found the stairs. And I've ripped off the black and yellow Caution Tape. Lord, I'm going to need your strength here. I know I'll mess up sometimes. I know I might trip and fall. But, I know you made this beautiful building just for me. So, it's time to really take my first STEP OUT ON FAITH.

TV Announcer's voice: "On our next episode of STEP OUT ON FAITH, Ebony begins the climb up the stairs, probably freaks out, but is going to keep going anyway. What surprises will show up around every corner? Stay tuned to find out!"