Time To Build
It started as a whisper…a reocccuring remembrance of Deuteronomy 15:6:
When the Lord your God blesses you as He promised you, then you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow….
For weeks, I would be reminded of these very words. I tried to ignore these nudges, but they only grew louder. There was no denying that the time had come for me to consciously get out of debt! Why? Well, I could list numerous reasons. I mean really, who desires to remain in debt? Sure, it can become comfortable—similar to walking around in circles for 40 years. Circular walking makes me dizzy though. I want what He has Promised!
So last year at this time, I was receiving student loan and credit card bills fully aware that I needed to PAY THEM OFF sooner than later! I had no clue how I would do this. Admittedly, I was not in a position where I had extra money. (Who really has extra money though?) Times were definitely hard and there I was being consumed by a divine pressing that I could not disregard. Have you ever been there? Maybe it was not with your finances, but in any area of your life??? Have you ever felt God telling you to do something and you wanted to do it, but you did not know how? For me, getting out of debt sooner than later would be entirely God’s work. I would more or less be a functional spectator because it was truly outside of my control. It really came down to me believing that God would do it if I simply followed His lead. Once I surrendered to this belief, He revealed to me enough of the why to encourage me along the way.
As I write this, I am smiling because of what happened next. A few days after my surrender, if not the very next morning, I was watching Joyce Meyer on television. (For those of you who may not know about the ministry God has given to her, see: http://www.joycemeyer.org/ ) Well, I was actually listening to her because for some reason that morning I was unusually sleepy. At the end of her broadcast, however, she announced that she was giving away a FREE book on getting out of debt. You would have thought an alarm was blaring in my ear if you saw the way I instantly jumped out of bed. All I had to do was email/tweet/call/contact the ministry and they would send it. I know God did that for ME! As I fought sleep, I did not know I was fighting to receive a blessing (but in hindsight it was clear). I got my copy on April 30, 2015.
On September 5th (2015), I paid off my credit card debt. Today, I paid off my student loan debt. (Thank you Joyce Meyer for allowing God to use you to bless me!) The beginning was the hardest, but it was fun seeing the progress in both myself and in the reduced balances. God is so awesome! Throughout the whole process, He allowed me to treat myself (and others) regularly along the way. He is amazing and I am in awe.
Excitedly, I am moving on to complete the next steps of the why. It is a process. Be encouraged! Be obedient! God will provide the how! Just trust Him! It’s time to build!
Excuse Me Little “Black” Girl—Part 1
Excuse Me Little “Black” Girl,
Yes you. I am talking to YOU! I know, I know…. You want to know, “Why?” Believe me when I say, “I understand your skepticism”. I have confidently interrupted you for no reason other than that you are female and black.
Is that a crime?
No…well, some may think so on two counts but in this case NO! To the contrary, I have stopped you to encourage you to continuously set goals and envision achieving the impossible in this crazy world. Its manifestations are indeed possible!
I get it! I GET IT! Achieving goals is hard. No one said it would be easy!
The ability to overcome stereotypes about who you are—or who you are expected to be— combined with societal hindrances, both inter-and-intra-culturally, does not come with a manual. BREATHE! Life is not that easy.
These breaking-barrier conversations, in number and in depth, to obtain guidance are not readily-accessible. We are not mythical, however. Living examples of us are in fact around, but you (and we) are being conditioned to overlook our essence and devalue our worth.
“Your turn will come,” they will say, “after his and hers.” Time does not stop. Remember, “Nothing beats a failure but a try.” Your turn is now, just as his and hers. Truth is, our worth is your worth. Collective value carries weight. It is either relieving or burdensome. Be conscious and careful about what you cart. No one said it would be easy. You must push on and push through. Your dreams will resuscitate you. You will learn to trust that your help, meaning help that is specific to you, will come. Time will teach you to expect and to accept it in whatever form and time it appears. Experience will sharpen your ability to identify it. In turn, you will become aware that you are being shaped to be the help for others of which you seek. It is a process. Excuse me little “Black” girl, you are being transformed.
Allow yourself to learn your SELF. Be patient. This is a never-ending process. It must be embraced with (at times stubborn) determination. Media messages will tell you, and those around you, who you are. Songs and television shows will do the same. Religious interpretations and authority figures will have a say, as will community leaders—if you are mentioned at all. Find appreciation in the knowledge of other’s misperception of you, then confidently introduce yourself.
It was nice meeting you. Now you know WHY.