You Can't Define Me

“You’re going to be the next Joyce Meyer.”

“You remind me of Kathryn Kuhlman.”

“You need to be a teacher.”

“I see you painting.”

These are all things I’ve heard throughout my life.  If you notice, all of these statements have one thing in common: They are what other people see for my life. Everyone has an opinion on what they think you should be doing.

The problem with this is NONE of these are what God says about me. We’ve been talking about identity at Rejuvenate Church and who we are in Jesus. 

I had a conversation with God a few days ago. In the Bible, Ishamel was born before Isaac, the child God had promised Moses. Ishmael was born because Moses’ wife got tired of waiting for the child God promised she would have. I refuse to settle for a counterfeit dream! This is a dream that someone else has for me.

I refuse to fit in a box that someone else thinks I should be in. Very few times has anyone said, “I see Madison. Be you! That is enough.”

I’m not meant to be the next great anyone. God has a purpose for me. I’m meant to be the greatest version of MYSELF, and you are, too!

Pondering

I have a confession to make. I don't think I've ever quite adjusted to being out of college. There was always something that needed to be done, some deadline to meet.

I think I have been stuck in a season. Don't get me wrong. I have work to do. I feel like I stay busy and I have never really mastered the art of just being.

Being okay with myself and where I am at physically.
Being okay with free time - I feel like I am lazy if I spend too much time on the computer or watching movies.

During this season - right here, right now I feel like God is telling me, "It's okay to have ONE goal. I want you to pour all of yourself into getting out the wheelchair. Stop feeling like you've missed an opportunity because you haven't done anything with your magazine. Don't get your worth out of things you DO. Realize that I love you for you even when you don't."

I'm realizing my worth isn't tied to who is or isn't around me.
My worth isn't in a job description.
My worth isn't determined by my imperfections.
My worth isn't tied to my writing.

I am more than my gifts. I guess I just haven't figured out who Madison is underneath all that. So many people put labels on you, but I am taking time to really ponder on who God says I am.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am loved.
I am redeemed.
I am forgiven.

Perhaps the simplest but most powerful truth of all: I am a child of God. I belong to Him when I don't fit in anywhere else. He has a plan even when I can't see it. He's working behind the scenes when I don't see anything happening or feel like it's not fast enough.

Life in Motion

What would a life in motion look like?

What would a life closer to love look like? What would a life closer to peace look like?

To move closer to these things we have to move away from hate, away from fear, away from worry.

I say a life of love would mean encouraging others. It would mean being aware of someone's faults and flaws, but choosing to focus on their good qualities instead. A life of love would mean 1 Corinthians 13 in action. That chapter sounds lovely, but it's only any good if you apply it.

I looked up the definition of motion. We all know it means movement, but I wanted to dig deeper. Some synonyms for motion are: "Agitation, direction, change."

When I said a life of love would look like 1 Corinthians 13 in action, I'm sure it stirred up feelings of agitation because that means that you and I have to change. 

A life in motion means you are going somewhere. You have a direction. You are not just sitting still. You are actively pursuing more for yourself even though it's painful. 

I'll offer this thought: A life without motion has no direction. Maybe you fall into that category. Maybe you've lost the motivation to move. Maybe you think it's no use because you'll be stuck in this place forever. 

STOP THINKING LIKE THAT! Today is a new day. You can change! All you have to do is make a choice to move. Don't let the pain hold you hostage. You can rise above this! So, get out of the slump and move. Baby steps are still progress.

Remember little victories become big ones! Next time someone asks you how life is going, don't talk about the mess. Just say, "I'm a work in progress!"

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The Empty Jar

The jar sat on the counter. Countless people passed by. Not one coin was put in.

Day turned to night and the jar remained empty.

This jar represented hope. It represented innocence. But the reality was, this jar remained empty.

This empty jar held a lesson. It taught me that even if no one else saw the value, to do it anyway. Give others the opportunity to give. It taught me that even if it remained empty, it still held promise. Because my plans were bigger than the jar. They could not and would not be contained.

This empty jar held a lesson about people's hearts. Not everyone is giving. Not everyone cares.

This empty jar held a lesson about opportunities. Hundreds had the opportunity to give, yet they chose not to. They missed their opportunity to make a difference, but that didn't mean I had to miss mine.

This empty jar held a lesson about familarity. People ignore what they don't understand. Not everyone will share your vision. Dream it anyway.

The jar may not have been full of money, but it was full of lessons I won't soon forget. 

Christmas Donation to Greenville Memorial and Ronald McDonald House

On Friday, my mom and got to be Santa's helpers as we took a donation of journals and sketch books to teens at Greenville Memorial. This was our third donation, but the first one at Christmas!

While there, Emily Durham, the Child Life Specialist who handles donations, shared with us that 400,000 children A YEAR come through Greenville Memorial and the speciality clinics! I knew they helped many people, but that's a lot!

This is me with all the donations. Since many families stay at Ronald McDonald House, we knew they could use journals and notepads to help them keep track of things. Often, it's the little things that mean the most when you are in stressful situations.

This is hanging on the wall of the Ronald McDonald House. My mom and I both loved it. "Together... we can change a child's life." THAT is the reason that I'm able to do what I do. These donations would not be successful without the help of generous companies, friends, and family members who want to make a difference! You helped put smiles on so many people's faces.

Are you frustrating the grace of God?

God gave me the phrase "Frustrating the grace of God" earlier this year. That phrase came back to me today, so I decided to look up the meaning of frustrate. Frustrate means prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled.

Everything makes sense. Frustrate means to prevent a plan from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled. I was telling my mom I didn't know if she had noticed but I'd gotten my joy back in an area of my life when I STOPPED trying to control everything. I was frustrating the grace of God in my life....AGAIN and didn't even realize it!

I couldn't let God do His job because I was too busy trying to do it. I was getting overwhelmed and frustrated trying to fix things and fill in holes I had no business messing with.

Have you done that? Scratch that. We all have. Have you done it recently? Are you tired, overwhelmed and angry about a situation that is beyond your control? Here's some advice. STOP. Stop trying to fix things. You can only do so much. Let God handle it!

God sees everything. He sees you doing more and more, yet it doesn't seem to make a difference. He wants to help. It's what He does best. He can't help you out of your situation unless you let Him. God's grace is readily available. Don't prevent progress or success by getting in God's way.

All of your efforts will leave you tired and defeated. You've tried it your way and it hasn't worked. Let God's grace cover you and your troubles.

Grace for the Moment

Image Credit: Time © Marek Bernat via freeimages.com

There’s a song that says, “He gives us grace for the moment,” and I firmly believe that is true.

So many times, we want grace to cover us at all times. And it is. It is always there helping us when we least expect it. It is not in one big lump, though.

Grace is found in the little moments. Grace finds us when we are weakest. Grace is there when we are lonely.

God gives us grace for the moment because he knows we are human. He knows our minds are frantically trying to figure out the next step…or what tomorrow holds.

He has been reminding me to let go and just be held in His grace. He wants me to just breathe and embrace His grace for the moment, not tomorrow. 

I encourage you to rest in His grace today. He says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient.” That means it is MORE than enough. Remember that!

He will be there for you moment by moment if you will let Him do what He does best – hold you and everything dear to you in the palm of His hand.