Thriving...in Spite of It

We all struggle with identity and self worth growing up, but the cold, hard truth is that we don't leave all the mean girls behind when we cross the stage at graduation.  Enter the career woman, seeking to redefine herself as an adult with abilities and credibility. Daily, we are challenged to prove ourselves worthy to people who don't (all) even care about us. If we fail, we believe we are failures. We turn back the clock on ourselves, shutting out all our other triumphs, and dragging ourselves back to the sixth grade PE class, crying because we were picked last for the team, or humiliated when we can't climb the rope.  Why do we allow that to happen? We have fallen into the trap of looking to others for approval, value, and identity, instead of The Lord.  Paul wrote "Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." (Galatians 1:10 NLT) We are created in God's image, beauti...

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful. (Proverbs 16:20 NLT)

Psych yourself up with this: Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. (Luke 10:19 NLT) Stand firm , smile often, and know that you are not conquered, you are a conquerer. You are not a victim, but a victor. Now, get out there and make today count. 

Today, while conducting a training session on leadership for some teen girls, I found myself talking about experiences at my old job.  Relaxed, happy, and enjoying life, how far removed I am today from the stomach-knotting, headache-inducing days in that torturous job.  If you have ever worked for a bully, you know what I'm talking about. That being said, I must confess that I was able to say that I have no regrets about the experience. I suffered much, but learned more, and the things that hurt me the most made me stronger and more aware of myself and others.  I was teaching from Titus 3:1, where Paul was giving instructions to be related to their church leaders. " Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,  to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." The word teaches us that obedience and respect are not subject to change, based on our  circumstances or en...

It's been too long since I posted anything--my apologies.  After one of my dearest friends finally retired and escaped from my old toxic workplace, I have decided to resume this blog. It seems an overwhelming number of women I know are trapped in similar situations, either at work or at home, daily struggling to maintain their identities in Christ---and dignity--while wading through swamps of deceit and degradation.  After four years of meeting new people AND new challenges, I've found there is a great, big, beautiful, amazing world outside of the foxhole in which I was trapped.  When you are living your life on the defensive, it's impossible to grow and develop into the woman God intended you to be.  There's just no room for that in a foxhole. If someone is telling you you're inadequate, incompetent, and making you feel worthless, you need to recognize that you are not being cultivated at work, or appreciated--you are being bullied. What I NOW know is that t...

I work with a group of teenage girls on a weekly basis in a minstry called The Ladies of Honor, and we recently gave them an opportunity to submit random questions for discussion.  One of them was "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Bad things happen at work.  Bad things happen to families.  Bad things happen to communities.  The truth of the matter is, bad things just happen. In the course of trying to sort out my mother's untimely death, I found myself bombarded with this question, from the inside, and the outside.  It's too easy to say we just can't question God, and we know this by reading the book of Job, but I did find some consolation there.  Job 37:23 says "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.." We cannot find him out. Years ago, my cousin lost her beautiful baby girl to crib death.  Trying to console her as she questioned why, I...