Stay In Your Own Lane

There's so much going on and readily available for us to view almost instantaneously through social networking. We would be liars if we said we didn't occasionally look to see how others were doing. And while others can influence us and motivate us, I want to remind someone that NO ONE CAN BE YOU BETTER THAN YOU.

I'll be very transparent and use my own experiences as an example. My purpose, condensed, is writing and encouraging people. Often times quotes come without thought to me. These are the gifts I've been given from God. But my writing style isn't traditional. It's to the point and raw. What some people may take paragraphs to write or say, flows through me in one sentence.

Here's my point. I admire many authors and contemporary people truly making a difference. But I find that when I share their work, say or do something as they would, it doesn't nearly have the same affect as when they did/said it initially.

So I stay in my lane. I am not graced to speak on finances, so I don't go there. I am currently not married, so I won't touch that. These pipes of mine sing best in the shower and unashamedly during praise and worship, but I bet you'll never catch me trying to record the next 'hit' with auto-tune. You see, I stay in my lane.

Although staying in your own lane sounds like a restricting term, it can actually make one limitless. It means that one knows the gifts that they were birthed with, and they can take the time to perfect them.

Again, THERE'S NO ONE QUITE LIKE YOU.

But let's be clear. Just because you're not great in a certain area doesn't mean you should never touch it whatsoever. But it does mean before hoping from one project to the next, from one area to another, perfect your craft or simply just be you.

No one has walk, talk, talents, experiences, swag, vision, assignment, grace, purpose just like yours. Walk in THAT authority. That you can never be a carbon copy because you are too busy being an original. SO what if they hate on you?! People often mock what they can't jock. Be who God created YOU to be.

Are you having trouble finding out what you're purpose is? You find that out on bended knees.

Through experience and trying to silence my purpose for so many years, I can tell you this: Your purpose is that vision that keeps coming upon you no matter how many times you try to ignore it. Your purpose is you doing that thing and hours passing with it feeling like a second. Your purpose are those visions so great that they keep you up at night. I can't tell you your purpose but I can tell you it's waiting for you and I am waiting for you to bless us all with it! 

  

Building a Skyscraper

Did you know that the taller the building, the deeper the construction team had to dig into the dirt?

Yes. In order for a massive building to be built, the earth must first be torn and it's base rooted on solid ground. These tall buildings have to be able to withstand trembling winds, up-roaring floods, panicking shakes, and a stampede of people inside trying to make a difference. But before it can be this beautiful building it's core had to be constructed on sure ground.

What am I trying to say? I am trying to say that each expert started as a beginner. I am trying to say that when your world gets shaken, it is not without a reason. I am trying to say that the depth of your past is an indication of the height of your future. As I check my very own heart, I ask you friend, are you building your dreams on solid ground?

Matthew 7:24-25 (24) Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.(25) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Just Fly Bumble Bee

Did you know that bees were never meant to fly; aerodynamically speaking?

According to the laws of science the bee’s body is too large and heavy for its frail and small wings to hold it. Technically speaking, the insect that has been found to have one of the most impressive and advanced species systems (such as creating honey, following their queen bee structure and carrying on the legacy of photosynthesis), should ONLY be able to crawl. Yet bees travel in packs into untold lands for a greater purpose. The bees never think “what if I fall?” They never stop and compare their wings to others. They just go. With their one weapon’s use costing their life, they fly against all measures with no fear.

The bee reminds me of all the limits we put on ourselves. It’s like the moment our faults are pointed out; we start to believe them too. Who says you’re not good enough to fly? Who told you that you can’t change for the better NOW? Who said you've got to be like them?

One of the most amazing things about God is that he uses some of the most unexpected candidates. Then He qualifies the one’s brave enough to look past the technicalities of the world. If faith can move mountains, will you let mountains move you? Or will you soar above the say so’s and supposed to’s and just go?

Sometimes I even doubt myself. But then God reminds me that this is a journey. Don’t waste your time wishing and talking as I have before. Just fly. 

Staying Authentic

I truly wish I had one solid story to explain my long departure to the pen, or better yet with evolving time, the key board. Since I can remember, there has always been this burning passion inside of me to write, to help, to inspire.

I saw it going places too. God was opening doors left and right. Then...my insecurities got the best of me. I didn't believe in myself as I once did. Fear took over. Fear was the very thing I thought I said "good-bye" to some time ago. I thought to myself "how can I be such a motivation to others or a blessing in Christ when I am so imperfect?" Then an avalanche of tests (or blessings) poured down.

God reminded me that I am an imperfect person serving a perfect God and that He will supplement every where I lack. That my gifts would make room for me. If only I just believed and stepped out on faith to a whole new level. If only I got out of my own mind.

This post is not intended to be some melo-dramatic episode, but the truth. This is for anyone who ever doubted themselves in any way. This is for anyone who felt they weren't good enough. This is for anyone who ever put their dreams on pause. This is for you, the person too bashful to ever admit it aloud.

Never let your past deter you from your future as I once did. You are complete in Christ. You have the opportunity to start right now in this very second. You have the opportunity to make a difference.

It all starts in believing you can.

In my silence I re-discovered aspects of myself and learned to love them at new depths. Why the vision of Let's Keep It Authentic kept repeating in my dreams even as an adolescent.

I was never meant to be some type of cookie cutter Christian nor person. Never was supposed to be restrained to baking pretty cakes. In the hypothetical, I am raw. Some people like it. Some people don't. So now that I love all of it I can move forward and hopefully through my transparency I can inspire some others to as well.