When we don’t know what to do, Father you do. When we don’t know what to Say, speak through us. If silence is all we have, help us not to fear it but receive it. Grant us comfort and strengthen hearts while we wait.
When we are far away from our ailing loved ones, you’re there. You’re near. When we feel helpless, grant wisdom When we are perplexed, grant clarity
Father, please intervene as only you can. Please Quiet all hearts right now. Grant comfort, quiet peace to the entire family’s anxious soul. Intervene now Lord as only you can. Please intervene.
Take care of the Ailing’s body and spirit Take care of the family. Take care of caregiver’s anxious mind. We pray these things in your name. Intervene Lord, intervene. Intervene as only you can.
Get up and Go. You can face any situation with him or without him. The choice is yours.
Charles Stanley
I Took some time to listen to my 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃𝐿𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 while on a nature trek. Actually accidentally. I was listening to another audiobook about women of God, finished a few chapters and decided to move on to another book. That’s when I pounced upon my own GreenLight book and said, why not? Haven’t listened in a while.
“𝓖𝓮𝓽 𝓾𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓖𝓸” was the tugging reminder of God’s grace. Charles Stanley reminded that We can face any situation with him or without him.
It’s in track 4 …. if you already have the book. If not, snatch yours here. Paperback and Kindle are options too.
The book was Inspired by the word of God and his direction. My Safe place and the soon to be released RedLight will complete the series. Follow his lead.
A career is an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress. For example, a child who goes into the family lineage of what they do…lawyer becomes lawyer, doctor becomes doctor, business owner hands down business to the child/children.
A vocation is a divine call to the religious life. Or a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation. For example, a physician who feels led to heal.
Advice
What advice would you give to someone who see themselves as having a vocation so that the work they do is part of who they are?
Sometimes a vocation and a career can be intertwined. Diving deeper, a careerist can remain in the same career for many years but enjoy the work in different settings, environments, or companies. So too can a person who has a calling and becomes committed to a vocation. The main difference can be gleaned as one who does a job as a means of survival in exchange for a salary to cover basic needs, wants and desires. This compared to other who will do it even when not being compensated. It’s a commitment to their very existence
Identity Issues that Arise
First, we will look at the definition. A career identity is a structure of meanings in which the individual links his own motivation, interests, and competencies with acceptable career roles.
Against that definition many individuals cannot see themselves as anything but their career. It’s more like a clutch. Executives and senior managers flaunt their titles so others can know who they are. It’s what they identify with. Individuals with lower-level jobs also identify with it and are often ashamed to share that they collect the garbage, for example. Yet turning that around, garbage collection can also be a calling. Just imagine where we would be if the rubbish in our cities were not collected.
A more direct and personal example relates to myself and what I shared about in the interview. I ate, slept, and dreamt about my job. It was more like a duty. There was no difference between me at work and me at home (when I was there). I gave it up when I had my little girl who was basically being raised by a nanny 4-5 years after she was born. As I reflected, I felt the tug of my calling to leave pharmaceuticals and go into direct healthcare where I could impact suffering patients because of my administrative strength intertwined in caring for others. I enabled physicians to work without having to bother about plans for recertification or regulatory compliance needs. This was something I believe was laid on my heart as a Christian. Today, as an author, I am led to make a difference through my experiences which have had the ability to impact individuals not only in my local community but also worldwide especially through my book Ditch It. Switch It and GreenLight: When God Says Go
My commitment to the Lord has helped others achieve his will purpose for them. I do that as a coach, a writer, author, organizational leadership specialist.
Another example relates to my pastor who passed away recently. At his funeral he was seen as a father, grandfather, friend, confidante, mentor and a student. This shows that we can wear many hats. It just depends on how we interface in our different roles as well as how we see ourselves. I believe one of the biggest challenges we face is accepting ourselves for who we are and who we are being led to be. We do not remain static in our roles.
How To Deal With Identity Issues?
Secondly, lets take a closer look at how we deal with the identity issue. Most important, do some introspection. Ask yourself these questions which were discussed in the interview.
How do you think about your job outside the office?
2. How do you describe yourself? How much of this description is tied to your job, title, or company?
3.How would you feel if you could no longer continue in your profession?
Asking yourself these questions (especially #3) will open the avenue to manage these identity issues.
In closing alleviate the identity issue with taking regular breaks (i.e. vacation). Stress is a significant factor that will hinder even the best of us.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Do share. We would love to hear.
What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.
I overheard a discussion between two ladies in the salon as they were listening to the song ‘bless the lord oh my soul… oh my soul, I worship his holy name…‘
It was being sung by a little child … hence the reflection on ‘gifts’. Anyway, it caused me to think about the gifts God provides to us. One lady said all I do is talk, gab a lot. I thought quietly… that in itself is in fact a gift. She can use that to become a speaker even in small group. She can use her gift of ‘gab’ to write a book, sharing her thoughts with others provided she will be positive. Personally I believe there is enough negativity in the world.
Discover Your Gift
There are many assessments available in the marketplace to help you find your gifts. Here are a few spiritual gifts for you to take a peek at:
Leadership
Encouragement
More popular envied
Singing
Acting
Administration
Wisdom
Faith
Encouragement
Mercy
Intercession
Discernment
Shepherding
Teaching
Hopsitality
Evangelism
Helping
Giving
Many quietly wish for the gift of singing, dancing, entertaining because those gifts are quite popular and can readily be seen. However, do you know that the more popular spiritual gifts often need support? Let’s take for example singing. Singers sing but often benefit from the gifts of songwriters. Movie-stars act but also need a script. And many others.
Be comforted to know that we need each other to soar. That’s how the Lord wanted it. Now go, find your gift.
Sitting next to me in church, 10 year old RJ whispered (bible in hand)… “nobody brings their Bible to church anymore”. Then he told me to look around. He was right. I did not even have my Bible in hand as Pastor Darryl read the displayed verses on the screen. Mine was in my bag. RJ proceeded to draw the cartoon comic discussion.
No excuses but the Tech era we are living in, most of us use the #bibleapp as our bible reading resource. Convenience at its core, It’s easy to carry around because we always have it on our phones. It’s also easy to share a verse or two to encourage others who cross our mind while reading.
But at times if there’s no WiFi we can experience connection issues if we didn’t download the App.
The risk though… we may end up scrolling to alerts that pop up… Unless we are very disciplined to avoid distractions. Nevertheless I love the convenience of the App.
But yep! I agree with RJ. Very few actually carry the Bible anymore. But let’s not be quick to judge as we rejoice in the convenience it brings while at work, on the move anytime, anyplace.
Join me in this simple challenge to take the physical book with us to church. Even more-so, let’s read our bible and pray everyday.
Blessings overflow to you as you listen while he speaks through the word. It ignites.
“Don’t help me”. That’s her cry each time I try to assist.
Too helpful. Is that even possible? Well my hairdresser thinks so. I often help her when she’s doing my hair. Hold my head up when she wants it down. Holding it down, turning to the side, this way or that. All going against her desire and affecting the progress she’s trying to make. So she always says, “Shell, don’t help me”.
Let Go. Let God
Isn’t it the same with our Heavenly Father? Sometimes we step in to help but do more harm than good. Often we end up in a different direction which may last anywhere from a short to a long time depending on when we learn, or get back on track.
Today, let’s let go and let God have his way in our life.
Funny how many of us worry our heads off about the future. At times some pass away and not even around to enjoy what they worried about. My sister had cancer and worried about leaving her kids. But because she knew she wouldn’t be around much longer after fighting the dreaded disease for over 12 years, she decided to put things in place for them to survive and thrive after she passed.
To Worry Or Not To Worry?
Some of us worry about tomorrow …what we are going to eat, what we are going to drink and more. Yet when tomorrow becomes today, we find that we have enough for the day. Often even more than enough. We are not satisfied with what we have. We want steak when mere chicken will do. We want a mansion when a small condo will do. We want vacations to share on social media and gain likes and followers when a quiet space will give our hearts peace.
As we enter a new era may we become satisfied with the present. May we be satisfied with God’s deserving provisions now. May we be comforted that like Joseph who accomplished his will in prison and rose from the depths of the dark hole, false accusers to the heights of ruling a nation during its most severe time of need.
Lord, when we are weak, make us strong.
For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to give you hope and a bright future.
In the cleft is my favorite place to be. This temporary space helps me hide from my infirmities, wants, needs and desires.
Beneath the shadows I lie in wait for the Lord’s amazing answers. In between He comforts, leads, and guides. As I wait (at times impatiently) he grants me peace and quiet solace. The pace, growth, love and understanding is all he asks.
GREENLiGHT 