Cool Saved Chicks Call

Hello to all the ladies that I talk to every week, many that I have never seen face to face *waves*

Tonight, I'm taking the time to celebrate a woman who has been very special in my spiritual growth, so there will be no call tonight, but I wanted to write you! (ps. the call has been rescheduled for Thursday)

A few things that have been on my heart and in my spirit that I wanted to share:

We are in the 8th month of the year. Every time I see the number 8, i'm reminded of the spiritual meaning which is new beginnings. From the onset of August, there were so many uncertainties in my midst, but God is constant. I've learned that when you focus on God, when you direct your attention to what is stable, you don't lose your balance. Focusing on the consistent presence of God means you don't lose your peace in the midst of everything moving around you.

I need you ladies to focus. Focus on exactly who God is. Focus on exactly what he's done. Focus on exactly who he made you to be.

And just in case you forgot...he made you righteous. He put you in good standing. He justified you. He calls you blessed. That means, no matter what you've done, no matter what you're doing, no matter what happens, he planned for it. He made provision for you. His word says "All things work together for good"...that means even the things that don't feel so good. Remember he loves you. There is nothing you could do to cause him to leave you or forsake you.

But the thing I wanted most to tell you tonight, is that I feel there is a season of turnaround. A season of repositioning, a season of seeing the very things we have prayed for. So don't give up now, don't settle for anything less that what he promised.

Remember, "faith worketh patience"...If you believe, you will wait for exactly what he said he would give to you. It's coming.

I love you all!!!! And I am soooooo looking forward to talking and hearing from you this Thursday!!!

You Need Deodorant

Last weekend I left the house with no deodorant on. It was a game time decision! Lol

It was 90 degrees (at 10am) and I was halfway out of my neighborhood. My conscious kept saying "go back Shardae, you aint gonna make it Shardae..." but the whole time I'm thinking "you can't be late, you can not be late...don't be the late girl"

I was headed to a shoot for a promo video, and given my new inclined "early is on time, and on time is late" mentality, I could not fathom being that girl that shows up strolling in while everyone awaits her arrival to get started.

But as I made a U-turn, I realized that was exactly what I might be...I needed deodorant! I got back to the house, and literally had to search for it smh...it wasn't where I thought I left it. I found it though, and generously applied it before leaving the house again.

I shot the producer a text letting him know I was running late, and arrived 15 minutes behind schedule. But guess what...they hadn't started, as a matter of fact they were still awaiting the arrival of other crew members...all I could do was laugh. I laughed even harder when 80% of the shoot was outside in the 90 degree heat!

As crazy as it seems, God really showed me something in that moment. So often I've been in such a rush to get to certain places in my life that I've literally been willing to compromise not having everything I need when I actually get there. I can get so caught up on meeting MY deadline, that I neglect key elements essential to the actual assignment.

Could I have made it without deodorant? I'm sure I could have. But I am also very certain I would have been musty. Likewise, with every aspect of life I realize settling is possible but yields uncomfortable results. Could I make enough money at a job I'm not purposed for? I'm sure I could. But I am certain I wouldn't be happy. Could I marry a man that isn't as spiritually mature as I am? I'm sure I could. But I am certain I would never be truly fulfilled.

Listen to your spirit when it says you need to turn around. When God sends you back to the beginning, it's to solidify a foundation needed for where you're going. You need deodorant.

It's ok to start over. It's ok to go back and get exactly what you need to carry out the plan for your life. Not only is it ok, It is necessary. DO NOT be afraid to turn around, what you're rushing to is not impeded by waiting for you. Why not arrive prepared.

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." - Nelson Mandela

Trees Don't Mourn Leaves...

"You can't connect to everything you touch..."

That's what my spirit told me. Growing spiritually and walking in love and light will have you feeling like you have to take every single person where God is taking you. Wrong. 

God's been showing me that sometimes a blessing is like this big party that He's throwing and you don't always get a plus 1. Often times when you bring someone with you to a party, you inadvertently give that person your attention instead of the event at hand. God won't chance that. He loves you too much not to help you realize your purpose. God will call you apart to come alone, just so he has your undivided attention. 

And another thing...

The people along the way that you meet, that you help, that you pour into are all very important but that doesn't mean you spend your time continually connected to them. Your job is to show them God, and let God do the rest. You can't be God. I'm learning unless my spirit leads me to do something, I'm out of order. I (Shardae) can want to pray for someone, I (Shardae) can want to assist with something, but when God says no, I'm acting out of my flesh and connecting to something I'm no longer supposed to be touching. 

I was in prayer today and God revealed to me that not everyone allowed in my life will stay there. Often times after the season is over, those people will be released. He said to me, "Have you ever seen a tree mourn it's leaves?" ...and the answer is no. More leaves will come. I will connect with them, but like a tree, I am constantly rooted in God. And as they fall, I must remain rooted and in expectation of the new growth that is about to take place...

#KeepGoing #KeepGrowing

I don't want it to "Look Right,"...I want it to "Be Right"

My drafts section has about 7 entries...I've been blogging for the past 4 months and have not posted 1 thing I've written lol. I think those were cleansing months for me, a chance for God to put things in perspective.

One of the things he's shown me is that when he is doing something in your life, you're a vessel and he is the one that determines what is delivered. When you alter that process, it is as if you contaminate the blessing he's trying to give. I realize more and more that God does not need my help, he needs my trust.

Transparent moment: I had no clue what "Cool Saved Chicks" was about. I had no clue what I was supposed to really do or the shape and form it was supposed to take. I just knew that God said "Start."

That's how it can be tho...sometimes God will tell you to take a step without revealing the staircase. And that's alright. What's wrong is that many times when we don't see the staircase, instead of waiting for God to reveal, we create our own next step. Sometimes we look at others staircases and even begin to mimic their steps.

When God is doing something great, something new, something that "eyes have not seen, nor have ears heard"...it won't look like everyone else's picture. When you take the time to piece together what you think God's promised you, it may look right, but it won't be right. As a matter of fact, it won't even feel right.

Growing in God I've learned that it's like I'm a brush, and God is the hand. He uses me to collect paint (situations, circumstances that I've gone through), and then creates strokes with my life to paint a picture that He ultimately will get the glory out of. I've learned that it's ok to be the brush. It is an honor to allow him to use my life to draw others closer to him.

Whether it's a relationship, or a business, or a ministry, when you begin to to be the hand instead of finding solace in being the brush, you run the risk of altering the picture. Altering the picture and  redefining your own path means the possibility of missing out on your God given purpose.

In the past couple of months I've committed myself to listening to God and following him, instead of my own ideas about what he wants. The more I listen, the more he reveals :) I'm excited.

Dear God...

I was supposed to be writing a deep inspirational post. It was gonna be composed using all the notes I've been taking lately during private bible study...but I changed my mind. I just want to write to/about God...so that's what I'm gonna do.

God is crazy good. His love surpasses anything I've ever been able to feel in this moment. Not sure what it is, there was nothing especially spectacular about today except for I felt him in it. That's how it's been lately. I've just been grateful and ridiculously happy. I always wondered what peace that surpasseth  all understanding felt like...this is it. I have no clue what's gonna happen next week, or next month, or next year. But I'm ok with that. The only plan I have, is to submit to his plan.

I've come to the place where not only do I watch God give me the desires of my heart, but the desires I have are changing. I realized that now that my heart is completely after God, there's nothing that I desire that he doesn't desire for me. We're on the same page, I'm finally in the right book. I refuse to leave this place.

He is love. I know that now better than ever. I finally get it. It's finally enough. I just feel so undeserving. After so many mistakes. After I took so long to pay attention. After I took so long to submit. He waited for me...smh. I love Him. I want this for everyone. I just wish I could give them(you) this feeling, this freedom. But I can't...only He can. So I plan to do the next best thing, I want to show you. My life is an ode to the love of God. A witness to the extraordinary favor he can bestow should you allow him. #WatchHimWork

SP

Don't get attached to your assignment

I get attached.

I think it developed when I was younger, when I would bring home stray cats and such trying to take care of them when I couldn't even take care of myself lol

I guess even back then I had this gift for caring for people and things. And, I believe that's ok. I believe it's ok to be called to watch over, to cover, to love, to care for people. But what I have found is that there is a significant problem with not letting go of people, and things that I was once assigned to but remained attached to long after the task is completed. 

I know I generally don't blog about the bible specifically, but I couldn't help but to be reminded of Samuel and how he was sent to anoint Saul as King. Samuel watched over Saul and instructed him as led by God. Then Saul messed up and God told Samuel to move on to the next assignment. Samuel was hurt. He had grown attached to Saul! God literally had to say, "get over it, stop crying, let go, I have something else for you to do!"...sometimes it's like that.  

Sometimes as children of God, He will literally place us in a situation to be a blessing and that's it. Sometimes he wants us to teach and/or learn a lesson. Nothing more, nothing less.

We can find ourselves stuck in Phase 1 because although we've completed our task and learned our lesson, we've somehow attached ourselves to a part of the process. It's literally like staying in kindergarden and not moving on to 1st grade because you are in love with your Kindergarden teacher.

I've come to the realization that many times I've overstayed my assignment in friendships, relationships, jobs, etc. simply because I was attached to the feeling of comfort and familiarity. That's a dangerous place to be. Why? Because there's no more provision when you've exhausted your purpose. That "lack of provision" is literally what begins to cause a shift in situations where you've overstayed your assignment. It's in the lack of conversation between you and your friend, the lack of understanding between you and someone you loved, the lack of fulfillment from the position that once brought you joy. 

It is a sad thing to miss out on your destination simply because you got comfortably attached along the way. You've got to grow so close to God that your obedience mirrors your trust Him. I've learned to put down what he tells me to put down, because I trust that it gives way to something He wants/needs me to pick up.

That hurt, didn't it?

This one time, I stuck my fingernail into an electric socket. I still have the scar as a reminder that sockets are not to be played with lol

I know what you're thinking, "where were your parents?"...well, the crazy thing is, well before I embarked on electrocuting myself, my parents distinctly told me to STOP sticking things into the socket. They even went so far as to put those little clear plastic things in them. But that wasn't going to stop me! Nope, I was 7 years old and fully capable of removing all protective measures that they'd put in place. 

To answer your question, my parents were out. Date night perhaps? I'm not sure. But my oldest brother was babysitting me. He was 15 years old at the time, and when it happened he was right there. The first thing he said was, "That hurt, didn't it?" ...and it did! 

Ok, so what's the point I'm attempting to make here...I'm glad you asked!

God is literally like the best dad ever, even better than mine (...and my Daddy is pretty freakin AWE-some). He protects us, often times from ourselves. He uses his Holy Spirit to communicate with us about things we should stay away from and paths to avoid. Sometimes he will even go as far as to literally put barriers between us and the pain we seek to inflict on ourselves. 

The problem is, sometimes our curiosity outweighs God's caution. Sometimes we want to know exactly what it feels like to touch a power that could kill us instead of listening to the power that lives within us!

I've had so many casual conversations with friends, read (and written) paragraph long text messages about lessons that we just can't seem to learn without "sticking our finger in the socket". I define a socket situation as something God specifically told you to stay away from. You know, that person, that place, that thing that you know God said, "don't touch that, stay away from that!". 

I know you have a socket...I actually want you to take a second right now if you're reading this and visualize your socket. Yep. Now, realize that the longer you keep that source of electricity in your midst and continue to ignore the power of God, you run the risk of being electrocuted. 

So many times we find ourselves hurt by things we just can't seem to leave alone! Looking back, not just at the scar on my finger, but at the scars on my heart that took so long to heal, I realize that they could have been avoided had I listened to my parent (God). Sometimes you don't understand his direction, but it is imperative to trust his plan for your life. 

One thing I can say I am proud of, is that it only takes once for something to electrocute me before I leave it alone. I know so many people who become repeat offenders, who become accustomed to the pain. Don't be that guy. Tap into the spirit of God within you and listen! Listen hard! The word says he will never leave you nor forsake you, it says he has plans to give you hope and a future. Live in expectancy. 

When you let God lead you, it doesn't just mean toward something, often times it means away from something too. If God said leave it alone, do just that.