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Author: Sharon Ricks

Just Open the Door

Just Open the Door

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Ok. Last week, I painted a whole room for the first time in my life. I know it doesn’t sound like much to you, but for me…it was everything. 

Now, I must admit. It’s not the best paint job I have ever seen, and I definitely wouldn’t have paid the painter who did that job. But, I am so proud of myself. I didn’t give up (Even though I thought about it…hard). I never knew there was so much stuff in that room. Once I started moving things around I could see how much was really there, and some of the items were so heavy that I could only move them to the middle of the floor. But, here is where it gets interesting. God was clearly in the midst of this whole thing. He always has a lesson for us…even while simply painting a room. 

As I was standing there looking at all the furniture, and paper, and miscellaneous items in that room, God showed me what my life was like (Believe me, I had no idea that was coming). I wanted to quit before I even got started. The thought of getting that room cleared out was a little overwhelming. But that’s how  life is sometimes. I was perfectly happy with just shutting the door, and not seeing the mess the room had become. What God showed me was that I was doing that exact thing with my life. Anything that was too hard, I ignored. I didn’t pray about it. I didn’t seek God about it. And I surely didn’t do anything about it. I had compartmentalized my life to only deal with what I had to, and when I couldn’t, and things got too cluttered…I left it for later.

God let me see that nothing was hidden from Him. I could shut the door, but it didn’t make the mess go away…it just temporarily hid it. He let me know that there was nothing that I couldn’t accomplish when I had faith enough to believe. That sooner or later, I would have to open the door. And when I did…He would be right there.

Until next time…

Be blessed

On This Journey

On This Journey

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I am on this journey of self-discovery, and I am learning to do things I thought I never would. I guess that’s a good thing, or at least I think it is (I’m still trying to figure that one out). I have always depended on other people. Not because I had to, but because that’s just the way it’s always been. I was never handy around the house. I can take things apart, but putting them back together is a whole different thing. I mean, I know what my gifts and skill levels are, and I have never had a problem letting others know I need help. But lately, I am doing things for myself by myself. That…is new for me. 

I’m not sure when it started. Maybe I just got tired of waiting for everyone else to find time to help me. Whatever it is, nowadays I’m finding that either handymen (or women) have more work than they know what to do with, or they have been working on their own projects. 

So, that means I have to step up. But, God is giving me this confidence I never had before. And I find myself feeling so excited. It’s empowering. Before I have even completed one project, I am already making plans for the next one. It’s really kinda cool. I am liking this new me. Although… physically I am stretching muscles I didn’t know I had…lol.

A friend recently suggested that I just pay someone to do things for me. That sounds good, but I reminded her that people no longer work for pizza and a six pack. That means that I will have to do at least the smaller projects on my own. I don’t mind though. Since I have hired myself, I can work when I am ready. I can work all day, and take the whole next week off if I want to. I can do half a job today, and do the rest next month. Of course, it will take me longer, but who cares? I’m just enjoying the journey.

Until next time…

Be blessed

What I’m Praying

What I’m Praying

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Since this pandemic began, my life has been transformed in so many ways that it is hard to keep up. And unless you have been living under a rock, your life has gone through some kind of transformation too.

Lately though I find myself forgetting every now and then. I’ll go out to run some errands, and pull up in front of a store that is no longer in business or has not reopened yet. It feels unsettling a little. Uncertain…even a little fearful. At those times, I wish things would go back to pre-pandemic days when things felt more familiar. I want to go out without grabbing a mask first, and get together without having to sit six feet apart. I even want to complain about having so much to do that I can’t wait to take a vacation. In short, I want my life back. But do I really?

As I worked through those thoughts, I realized that what my life is like now is to some extent…what I had been praying for. I had been asking God to help me focus on what was really important. To allow me to do the things that I loved to do. To have the time to finish some of the projects I had been putting off, and the biggest one…to spend more time in communion with Him. So why would I want to go back to a lifestyle that always left me wanting? The answer is…I don’t. At least not all of it.I enjoy having uninterrupted time to think and to pray and to really stop and smell the roses. I enjoy Zoom calls and Facebook Live and working in my yard. 

I think it’s in our nature to want what we don’t have. I’m praying that things never go back to what they were before…I’m praying that things will be better. I pray that we take the blinders off, and really look at what is happening around us. I pray that we are more aware of the injustices in our country, and in our world. I pray that we focus on someone other than ourselves and our own comfort. I pray that we treat each other better. And I pray that if nothing else, this pandemic has awakened us all to the reality that tomorrow really is not promised.

Until next time…

Be blessed

New normal (New name)

New normal (New name)

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Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend, and we were talking about our “new normal.” People tend to use that term whenever things in their lives are no longer the same. When things change so much that it no longer resembles what it used to be. But what is “normal” about that? And life changes are definitely not new.

For some reason, I never liked that term. And I like it even less now. I’m not sure I ever knew what “normal” was supposed to look like…but what we are experiencing now is definitely not it. 

We talked about our virtual lives, and how we have begun to use the internet to do everything from selling merchandise to attending conferences. We even talked about the number of people who are being reached for God that may never have set foot inside of a church building. But even with all of the positive things happening, there is still something missing. The one thing this “new normal” can never replace is the human touch. There is nothing normal about not being able to shake someone’s hand, sit in a movie or console a friend without fear. There is nothing normal about not being able to go out in public without a mask, visit someone in the hospital, or even God forbid…attend a funeral. And there is nothing normal about having to wash your hands with sanitizer every five minutes, or even hug a friend.

I know this situation will not last forever. And I thank God for that. One day we’ll look back on this time and marvel at our ability to cope under these extraordinary circumstances. We will even reminisce about how some of us actually thrived during this time. I’m looking forward to that day. In the meantime, even though I know I can’t change the things that have happened because of this pandemic, I can change what I call it…

I think I’ll just call it “different.” 

Until next time…

Be blessed

It’s a new beginning

It’s a new beginning

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Back in January, we were looking forward to an awesome new year. To maybe accomplish some things we didn’t get to do in 2019. Well…

Time has been flying by, which is crazy since the whole Coronavirus thing has literally slowed the whole world down. And I don’t know about you, but the days are beginning to run into one another, and Monday is beginning to look like Saturday. But even in that, we have to look for the blessings in all of this. We can whine and complain, but that just makes us and everyone around us miserable. Who wants that? 

We have definitely had time to re-think, re-evaluate, and re-position some things. It has been the greatest do-over ever! Whatever it is that you didn’t have time to do before–you have plenty of time to do it now. The Bible says in Genesis 50:20 that what the enemy meant for evil, God will work it out for our good. 

We are in the eighth month of the year. Biblically, the number eight means “New Beginnings.” If anybody is in need of a new beginning it’s us, right? This is our time to start fresh…to learn to make the best of things. Change is not necessarily a bad thing. It can take us out of our comfort zone, open new doors of opportunity, and help us grow into the people God has called us to be. Be willing to change course. Be willing to pivot. Be willing to do it differently.

This is a new beginning. How will you respond?

Until next time…

Be blessed

Still good

Still good

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This has been a tough season. But don’t be discouraged…this is only a season…life is still good. Things will get better. I know it feels like it is going to last forever, but it really won’t. One of the things that makes it so hard is that it seems like as soon as we get past one hurdle another one is already on the way. It can be disheartening. Our lives are just like the waves of the sea…as surely as our problems roll in–they will surely roll out.

That’s just the way life is. It’s all hills and valleys. Every now and then, we will get some level ground, but that is just there to prepare us for the next climb. God does prepare us in advance though. The thing is that we are so busy doing life that we sometimes miss the signs. But the Bible says that His grace is sufficient…meaning that even though we may miss the signs, He will carry us until we can get our footing again. 

Here’s the thing…our lives are full of lessons. We just have to learn how to manage them. Some lessons are for us, and some lessons are designed for those around us. Our job is not to know which is which. Our job is to trust God no matter what is happening in our lives, and know that He will see us through. Be encouraged. Even though life may sometimes be hard…it is still worth living, and God is still good.

Until next time…

Be blessed

A love that never gives up

A love that never gives up

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Most of us do not like talking about our mental health. We would rather focus on anything else than our emotional state, But, it is so important right now for us to be aware of the things that we are thinking about. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We have to take authority over every thought. We can’t stop what comes into our minds, but we are in control of what stays there.

We have to figure out a way to deal with those things that are dealing with us. We can’t ignore them hoping that they will go away. And we can’t tough it out on our own. That’s what the enemy wants us to do. He wants us to think that no one cares, and that’s not true. There are resources available, but we can’t be too prideful or embarrassed to let anyone know we need help. Don’t let anything keep you from living your best life. Everyone has problems at some point, but it’s how we deal with them that counts. 

Sometimes I just start speaking God’s word out loud. I fill the atmosphere with the Spirit of the Lord, and He helps me make it through. God’s will is that we prosper and be in good health, and that means that every now and then we need to talk it out with someone. Sometimes that’s a friend, and sometimes it’s a professional. Don’t let your situation control you…you control your situation.

God’s word says that He will never leave us or forsake us. That means that whatever we are going though…He goes through it with us. Never doubt that. God loves us with an everlasting love…an unconditional love. A love that never gives up.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Looking Forward

Looking Forward

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We are going into the second half of 2020, and nothing looks the way it used to. The way we thought our lives would be like for the most part, has totally changed. But, here’s the thing…we have to walk into this next half with purpose. God has given us the victory, and nothing can come against what He has set in place. We are still the recipients of His amazing grace. 

I don’t know what the last half of this year will bring, but I do know that God is in control. He knew that this pandemic was going to happen, and He has already prepared a way of escape. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. Temptation is not always chocolate cake, or pornography, or alcohol. We may be tempted to fear, to doubt, to worry, but God’s word says that those things have no power over us. We can speak God’s word over our situation, and that thing, whatever it is–has got to move. Matthew 17:20 says, ‘Say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.” That’s what having faith the size of a mustard seed means. 

God is reshaping our lives in a way that most of us never thought possible. And many of us are rising to the occasion. We are opening businesses, learning new skills, finding new ways to communicate, and realizing that even if things are not the way we expected them to be, we can still look forward to what they will be. 

Until next time…

Be blessed

A New Thing

A New Thing

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One of the things I am learning in this new season is that I have to be willing to “see” things differently. I am realizing that the most important things are not things that I can put a price on. For instance, I am finding joy in the simplest things like, Zoom calls, old movies, and church on YouTube or as some of my friends call it…beside baptist. I love days when everything goes according to plan, but I am learning to appreciate even the ones that don’t. That’s new for me. I like to plan things. That’s who I am. A planner. But this pandemic has changed everything. I have had to throw planning out the window. I would never have imagined that I would be in this place…yet here I am. 

I have had to learn to let go of everything I thought would be, and lean into this new thing with a new kind of passion. I am becoming this person who doesn’t need validation from others to know that I am good enough. I don’t need to know what everyone thinks anymore. If God is pleased, I don’t need three other people to confirm it. I trust my instincts, and I trust Him. That’s enough. God made us all unique. In fact, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but we are not perfect, and I don’t think God expects us to be. He knows who we are, and He has gifted us with the ability to do everything He has called us to do. 

I have learned to laugh at myself when I make mistakes. I remember a time that if I made a mistake in front of anyone, I would beat myself up for days…sometimes years. I have even started going live on Facebook to share the crazy things that happen to me. The funny thing is that before this Coronavirus, I would never have been able to do that. But, this is not the time to let fear have control. This is the time to be bold enough to try new things without worrying about how anybody else feels about it.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Begin again

Begin again

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For many of us this has been a time of grieving, loneliness, and fear. We have had to face the things we have been trying to ignore. Injustice. Prejudice. Hate. Truth. Our existence has been based on a series of half truths. We tried to pretend that things were better…different…changed, but the curtain has been pulled back, and we can no longer ignore it. So, what do we do with this new reality?

We begin again.

We talk, we plan, and we figure out ways to treat each other better. We work together to make sure we all have what we need to live together peacefully. The Bible says, “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” We have to pursue it. We deserve to live in peace. We deserve to raise our children without fear. We deserve to love without worry. The best way to do that is to first, be honest about who we are and how we feel. What we feel is important. How do we really feel about our lives? Are we even living our best lives?

Second, we have to stop allowing negativity of any kind into our space. And that takes work. We have to pray about everything, and everyone we allow into our lives. Because many of us know people (family members included) who are so negative that they wear it like a piece of clothing. Although we love them, we don’t have to keep that person close. We can love them from a distance. Sometimes we even have leaders who may have the tendency to be negative or say negative things. It’s okay to respect the position that person holds without allowing them to be a part of our daily circle. 

This is not the time for us to be passive about our lives. We have to take back our authority, and use that to make a difference in the world. We have to stop thinking that we don’t have anything to offer. We do…and we will. Our voice is needed in this season.

Until next time…

Be blessed