Written by Jody Davis Lybrand

How do you perceive God?

The Lord God is with me. He is The Mighty Warrior that rescues, defends and preserves me. He takes great delight in me and He is filled with gladness as I draw near to Him. His love quiets me with a great peace. We dance a dance of joy as He sings a triumphant song over me. (Zephaniah 3:17, my translation)

Can you envision that? Almighty, creator God, maker and sustainer of all that is…dancing…with YOU!  Is that possible? Does He love that much? Or do we think of God as the Great Grinch and Party Popper?

Consider creation, we see the majestic mountains, turquoise oceans and blue or starry skies. We have magnificent diversity of trees and beautiful flowers! Would God give us such wonders if he didn’t want us to take joy in it? Would He give us the ability to laugh, to enjoy music, then say don’t? Could it be that we need to reassess our perception of God?

I wonder if we think, out of some innate sense of guilt, God is out to get us.

Yes, we are all born with a sin nature that separates us. (Romans 3:23) But remember to balance that with the great sacrifice He provided to bridge that vast chasm. (John 3:16)This selfless act of God and the belief in Jesus is a gift called grace, amazing grace, supernatural grace, abundant grace, sufficient grace! This means we receive “the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace”. (Ephesians 1:7b TPT)

Just as He communed with Adam and Eve, He longs for that with each of us. He wants to be that real to you. He wants to do life with you!

What if we looked at life as one long dance. Could you think of a better partner than your Creator? The one who knows everything about you, loves you, cheers for you and wants the best for you. Remember, above all, God is love. Its not something he does, it’s who he is!

He loves you without limits! He lavishes us with his grace and mercy! His request is waiting. All you need to do is turn to him, accept and believe it.

Read that first verse again!   Picture yourself accepting His outstretched hand, spinning around the dance floor of life and all eternity!

 

Jodi Davis Lybrand is a lifelong resident of Shelby County. She is married and has raised two wonderful sons, has a beautiful daughter-in-law and 3 of the most adorable grandchildren ever!
Her favorites include playing with those awesome grand sweeties, enjoying long walks and sunsets, visiting with friends, old and new, painting and working on her bucket list!
A Bible teacher for 30 years, teaching preschool to senior adults (before she was one!) Jodi jests that she can teach you a Bible lesson in sixty seconds or sixty minutes! Most of all she loves to encourage people through the truths found in God’s holy word.

 

Written by GeNeise Fuller – aka Lady Ge’

As a Something More Writer, I understand more and more the mission of bringing ‘The Happy’ into the lives of hurting women.

Let’s face it; all of us go through things in life that’s sometimes isn’t pleasant. I call them ‘Issues of Life’ (Prov. 4:23b).  Which means, we all endure heartache, pain, disappointments, set backs, loss, on and on.

I am realizing more and more in order to get to ‘The Happy’, you have to deal with the pain; and that my friend isn’t easy at times. But I have a little slogan that help keeps me Free in my thinking, and it says, ‘If you want to be healed, you’ve got to be real!’

You have to get to the point where you’re willing to open up (to a trusted source) and let someone know what’s going on with you! For example, in order for a Doctor to properly diagnosis you and possibly prescribe medication, you have to tell him/her where you hurt; where the pain is located. If you’re not upfront and honest or if you keep silent, two (2) things could possibly happen:

1. The doctor won’t be able to help you at all, especially if you are silent.

2. You may get a wrong diagnosis if you are not honest and that can be harmful or even worst, fatal!

In my Newly released Book: When Is It MY Time? A Poetic Courtroom Battle with God, I surprised a lot of people with the content. It was a side of me that anyone rarely saw because I was the one who often brought ‘The Happy’.

This Book of Poetry expresses raw feelings and raw emotions without holding back. I was hurt, disappointed, angry and fed up!  I was asking God, When Is It MY Time? When is it my time for love, for the abundant life and for that right relationship! I wanted some answers so I created a courtroom style setting and presented my case to the Only One I knew that could answer those questions.

One of the greatest things about it all is that I was open and honest with God. I did not approach Him with disrespect but as a woman with true and raw emotions searching for answers to my question. And God, with His great love, mercy and wisdom, comforted me, gave me hope for my life and put me back on ‘straight street’ sort of speak.

The book was freeing for me because I wasn’t afraid to tell my story. Do you know why? Because ALL of us have gone through hurt, pain, loss, disappointment and so on. With that, I knew I wasn’t alone in telling my story. The details of it maybe different from yours but the emotions are the same.

In conclusion, I want to leave you with these three (3) ‘GeNuggets’ that has set me Free! It allows me to Bring ‘The Happy’ everywhere I go. I invite you to give it a try.

1. Realize that you are NOT alone! You are not the only woman going through or have been hurt. So, no one can legitimately judge you.

2. Find a trusted friend or organization to share your pain or struggle. Better yet, share them with the Lord first. Open up to Him and He will lead you to the right person or place.

3. My Motto for my Facebook Live Group, Thirsty Thursdays (Poems that Heals) is, “Keep Your Head Up and Do You!” — When you keep your head up, the enemy has a hard time keeping you down. And, when you Do You, You are being true to whom the Creator created you to be. No one can do you better than you! You are a Masterpiece! Recognize The Power of YOU! *

Listen, I would love to know how you’re doing. Let’s stay connected.

Cheerfully,

Lady Ge’

GeNeise Fuller is a Singer/Songwriter and Poetry Therapist. Her innovative music is filled with words of Hope, Joy, and Victory and her poetry incites raw boldness and healing to readers and listeners alike. Her GeNotes’ blog posts are written articles designed to help encourage and empower hurting women. She is also Founder/CEO of A.C.C.E.S.S. Organization, Inc. A company that is Approaching the Cause of Children Exposed to Secondhand Smoke through Education, Visualization & Communication as well as a dance coach and dancer. She has written a book “When Is It MY Time” launching Spring 2019.

 

Connect with me at:

Facebook.com/geneiseink

Twitter.com/geneiseink

Instagram.com/geneiseink

geneise@geneiseink.com *For details of the Poem: The Power of YOU!

www.geneiseink.com For Book details: When Is It MY Time?

Written by Jackie Tinkler

 

“He must become greater; I must become less.”

John 3:30 (NIV)

 

 I’m a “stuff” girl.    A blank wall, an empty corner, an unaccessorized table top, well, it appears like something is missing.  I’ve tried to go “minimal” or “neutral” but I always end up putting all of my “stuff” out again.

A few years ago, I asked a decorator friend to restyle my home.  After about an hour of walking from room to room, ooing and ahhing about wall colors, accessories and pillows, she suddenly turned to me and said…”You don’t need another thing, Jackie. You already have enough.” I said, “I don’t need another thing? Are you sure?”  My heart sank, because I was SURE I needed something more!  Just something that would make it that much better than what it already was.  To be honest, I already had way too much!

What it really needed was “less” not more.  A concept I was just not familiar with or liked.  Somewhere the  voice of my heart screamed  “This isn’t enough!”  The idea of having it all or having more fulfilled a void I didn’t even know was there.  As I heard the Lord whisper… “make room,” I cringed a little. What I didn’t realize was if I cleared away the clutter, it would give my “home sweet home” a new life.   I reluctantly cleared away my things and left only what I absolutely loved, and you know what?  As I stepped back, holding my breath, I saw it for the first time… the warmth.  Not because of the stuff left in it, but because my eyes could now focus on the beauty from the things that truly brought value.

Dear sister, are you in a season of want? Are you covering up your pain with stuff?   Maybe if you make room for something different, something unexpected…something more, you will let go of the disappointment when no one called, the hurt when you found out they lied, the betrayal when they were unfaithful, or the pressure to be and do more.

Let your heart be filled with authenticity again.

Hear God’s whispering ” Sweet lady, you become less and I’ll be the More” 

Here are three ways that will help you unclutter your heart and mind:

1.  Clear away all things that are taking up room that compete with your beautiful purpose.  This includes those things you are doing that are bringing no value or fruit to your life.

2.  Ask Jesus what “piece” of your life has been hidden beneath the chaos that brings Him the most Glory.  What is it that blesses the lives of others but you have not made time for by bringing it to the forefront.

3. Find a quiet place or time to reevaluate your priorities.  There will be things you need to declutter, clear and purge to  make room for God’s something more.

Lastly…

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  Hebrews 12:1 NIV

If you let it go, God will give you MORE than you could have ever imagined or dreamed. 

Jackie Tinkler is the Co-Founder and Ministry Development Director of Something More and lives in Birmingham, Alabama. She has been ministering to women for 20 years as a Women’s Ministry Director, Counselor and Producer. She is co-writing a Women’s Small Group Study “Something Beautiful” and when not leading women to freedom can be found worshipping at Church of the Highlands, decorating her friends homes, enjoying time with her family and chocolate lab Nelson or sitting in the balcony at the Alabama Theatre.