STEPPING OUT OF THE BOAT TO WALK ON WATER II: #GodUseMe #IamEnough

Hello God's Artwork!

I hope you are still resting in God's presence during this season. As promised... I restrained from bombarding you with posts like I did in the month of April😜😂😂. Okay let me be honest. I have been writing but on other platforms and mostly for the future.

As most of you know, this blog was born on 3rd March 2020. The first post was entitled stepping out of the boat to walk on water. I had hoped we could cover that series back to back in February, but the Holy Spirit led us otherwise. And I am glad He did, because the revelation of it is clearer now... 

In a previous post I had shared that I was about 6weeks to completing my Bachelors of Architecture before the lock-downs. So, you can imagine the kind of inconvenience this may have been. But God has truly worked it out for my good.

I have found myself wonder a lot lately and maybe even get a little scared, of whether I am ready to become an independent citizen. Well, I still intend to live with my mum but I will need to start chipping into the budget, you know... Thoughts like these when not guided by the Holy Spirit can lead to fear and hence doubt of God's promises over you. I found myself going to the extent of feeling unqualified for anything😅😂 including even doing my own laundry properly.

One of the struggles I have had for a while is believing in myself as a creative. This started in around 3rd year of my studies during a presentation of my school project. I was going through something else (I can't remember what exactly) on that day. For that reason, I ended up feeling attacked by the negative comments, which, I think were meant to be corrections, that came up that day. So, from then on, though most times I was able to encourage myself in the Lord, once in a while I felt insufficient to be good enough for not only architecture, but also the other skills.

For that reason, I had not been able to gather courage to apply for opportunities that availed themselves even though I felt I may have a lot to offer... Basically, I was scared of being rejected due to those past experiences. I thank God now, that He helped me sort it out and it's now all in the sea of forgetfulness. This year I have been able to yield myself to God's truth concerning my life. With the help of teachings from various sermons, books and even the youth meeting that inspired the title of this series. But especially what God has spoken to me per-so-na-lly!

I particularly remember one of the youth leaders share her testimony concerning this matter of failed interviews or negative criticisms. I paraphrase:

"The issue is not you. The issue is them. They have refused to open their eyes and see the treasure that is in you. So, it's them loosing and not you. I want you to know that YOU ARE ENOUGH, in fact more than enough!"

That phrase is what ended up being the other catchphrase of the series... And today, the title of our post. You can find the highlights of those meetings in the FOV Facebook page through this link.

With that revelation, I was able to gather courage this month and apply for opportunities around me. Some of you may have seen the #EACiDeserve Competition I participated in... We are still waiting for the results…

It hasn't been easy stepping out.  For some opportunities I was turned down or they never got back to me. Good news though, there is a breakthrough in the offing🎉🎉. Let me reserve it for another post...😁

 

So how have I been reminding myself this month that I am enough? That I am God's artwork and He is artwork in me and through me?

The story of Mary. Particularly Mrs. Joseph😉: Jesus' mother. I tend to think of Mary as a ponderer: one who meditates. And this habit gave her mastery. You have heard of the word mastermind from several self-help books like Think and Grow Rich. It usually refers to one who has mastered the art of positive thinking and it reflects in their words and actions and hence they yield fruit. Now, Mary had even greater than that because hers was not just positive words but the Word. In whom was Life and Light.  Which is Christ.

About two or three times we see it said of her, "And she kept all these things and in her heart."

- When the shepherds came and shared their experience... Luke 2:19

- When Simeon spoke over hers and her son's life… (vs33 says they marveled at the words)

- The response she was given by Jesus at 12years... Luke 2:51

I believe she didn't start this when she became pregnant but it must have been something she started in her childhood. I imagine that, when prophecies and teachings about the Messiah to-come were spoken in the Synagogue she would meditate on them throughout the week as she eagerly waited for the next Saturday's sermon😃...

She meditated on the Word so much until it become flesh in her: a baby! This is revealed in the greeting by the Angel Gabriel. I have always wondered why it shocked her because I really didn't see anything soo shocking. Recently, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to see why...

I compiled my revelations on that in an almost poetic format: someone suggested I do poetry because of my word game😌😌...

Check it out in the next post and let me know whether I succeeded at poetry😅😂