A Daily Dose of Freedom

"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken." Matthew 12:36 I encountered a few annoying things, on yesterday, that grabbed my attention and kind of soured my overall mood. First, I witnessed someone extend an overwhelming amount of patience and consistency as they were hit with a "double whammy" simultaneously. Well, I'm sure it was nothing out of the ordinary for their daily ministerial routine because they were just flowing gracefully in their gift. My head hurt just imagining having to deal with something like that on a consistent basis. There was just no way that I could see myself being equipped for this call but their smooth execution silenced the firecrackers that exploded in my head as I offered invisible kudos to a job well done. Shadowing people in ministry gives you a different level of appreciation for the assignments that extends far beyond normal business hours. The need ...

Yesterday, I experienced a roller coaster of emotions that moved me to invisible tears--more specifically, some inner major highs and lows in the same setting. However, I just couldn't allow the tears to fall in God's presence with all that he's been doing in my life.  Surely, any trace of "sadness" in this season would be a flat out sign of disrespect-a slap in the face in exchange for his blessings. For a moment, I was elated about the sacrifices that I'd made over that last year that finally produced some tangible results. Then a temporary moment of "loneliness" overshadowed my win. I sat on the couch, physically dressed and ready to go somewhere--anywhere. But I couldn't think of one person to celebrate with and furthermore; what exactly was I celebrating?  In short, the answer was life! I had a few "unapologetic wins" under my belt but that felt foreign. Honestly, I was "scared" to celebrate. What if this "spir...

People are navigating through some pretty difficult storms that will leave a lump in your throat the size of a golf ball. In the past few weeks, I've read numerous heart felt local stories of tragedies, loss, and sickness on social media whereas family members have reached out for support, encouragement, financial donations and/or prayers. My heart collided with their grief as I imagined myself being in their shoes. I literally felt the sense of urgency for everyone, as they sat patiently waiting for overwhelming needs to be met. My heart ached in further contempt--frustrated that my bank account didn't yield enough commas to make it happen for everyone with legitimate needs. Many times, I would have to log off and just pray that God would touch the right hearts and that "giving" would not be a financial burden to the ones that were able/willing to be a blessing. I'm no stranger to crisis. (We've all been there a time or two.) I know what it feels like to ...

"Loyalty isn't straddling the fence of uncertainty. It's the fundamental building blocks of integrity that speaks the loudest without the presence of words." I don't know the exact origin of the phrase, "loyalty over everything," but I know it sounds the alarm for many, like me, with a proven record of trust issues. I like to think that I'm a fairly easygoing, gentle spirit but I've had my share of mishaps. My social awkwardness has a history of rubbing people the wrong way on occasion. I have a heart of gold but I'm not big on "small talk," so people insist that it's difficult to read my energy. I disagree wholeheartedly! People that take the time to get to know me understand that there's a bubbly extrovert lying beneath the surface just waiting to exhale. But loyalty, well that's a non-negotiable prerequisite for being in my space. My heart can't tolerate any less. I understand that my energy isn't welcome...

"From the withered tree a flower blooms." -Proverb Around the halfway mark of every year, it never fails. A few goals start feeling out of reach, a little dust of boredom settles in and the finish line seems further away than on yesterday. If you're anything like me, sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap of looking ahead of God's timing with a teardrop of frustration. The sweet agony of "waiting" can be quite the challenge. My head comprehends, "patience is virtue" but trying to convince my heart that God has not forgot...well that is a "continuous work in progress!" When our seasons change and we've conquered our fair share of storms, we're immediately ready to harvest a crop but how soon do we forget that  a "seed" doesn't bloom overnight? Not matter how much sun exposure, fertilizing or watering, it's still a process. Life is just like germination. Every step is equally as important to insure ...

"Our storms shouldn't impede our journey because "our faith" is the way maker."                                                                                                       -A Daily Dose of Freedom Lord, where has the time gone? My short hiatus hasn't been the result of back sliding to the wilderness or secretly struggling with strongholds in the privacy of my four walls. God intentionally placed me in a secluded place to do some serious soul searching. To get my head on straight and understand this "purpose" thing a bit more. You see for years, I've sat on the sidelines, nurturing "unworthiness." I spoon fed the doubt, insecurities and fears that the enemy planted in my spirit. (Trust me, what you feed will defi...