Ms. Rose on Boldness

Today's post is to spotlight youth who exhibit S.H.E. qualities (Stunning Heroine Evolving). Check out how Ms. Rose reflects boldness and encourages other young women to find their voice.

How do you exemplify boldness? What does it look like to you? Through our faith in Christ Jesus, "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind" (NKJV). There will be moments when fear comes to interrupt our peace; however, when we draw within ourselves and remember the power that works in us, fear no longer has a place to dwell.

When the Seasons Change...

I have yet to meet someone who has not concluded that one of the four seasons is their favorite. Think about it…many will say winter because they love to see the purity of snow that covers the ground like a blanket. Others will say spring because trees and flowers begin to bloom. Another group will exclaim summer because it allows for fun in the sun and boundless vacations. And finally, fall because of the arrangement and assortment of colors the leaves adopt. Although each earthly season offers a unique aesthetic appeal, creation’s response to seasons reflects not only the Sovereign Creator, but also the nature of man.

Yesterday, my husband brought home a beautiful arrangement of Asiatic lilies. Before I could even notice they were not yet in full bloom, he eagerly shared why he purposely chose to purchase them closed than open. The florist explained that the real gratification is not found when they have already expanded. It is rather getting them while closed – watching them grow, enduring a process until they reach their full bloom. My husband is always a fan of a spiritual truth found in everyday moments, but he bought these for me as a reminder of God’s timing and process for his children. My husband holds a front row seat to watching my journey to dream fulfillment, expansion of faith, movement of mountains and every other obstacle course one faces in daring to dream big and daring enough to believe it can happen. As much as I am stirred daily to answer the call and assignments God has for my life, I often find myself wanting to rush and move onto the next which does not allow time to “smell the lilies.” More than that, I am reminded that I must stay in tune to discerning the time and season to better grapple the circumstances I am faced with. We can smell the air and discern rain is coming; we can see a grey or monochrome sky and feel the snow shortly approaching. But as Jesus warns, “You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times” (Matthew16:3 NKJ). Much of how we see our circumstances and our God is correlated directly to how we make decisions and how we understand what is happening. A limited view of God will say, “Why is this happening TO me” while a mature view will boast, “This is happening FOR me.” One thing that all of God’s creation have in common is that whether we agree with God or not, process happens to all and for all. In Amos 3:3 it states, “How can two walk together unless they agree?” (NKJ) Can we say we are walking with God when we are not in agreement with His time and season for our life? I encourage you to seek God on any area where you are still stubborn or hard of heart on something you know He has asked or nudged you to do, but for your own reason you have yet to reconcile this.

As you make the next step in your life or prepare to make any change, ask the Lord to show you the season you are in: reaping, sowing, planting, studying, building, harvesting, launching, or grieving to name a few. The names exclusive to what God reveals to you in your quiet time and prayer. Look to connect the dots of what is happening around you. What are you asked to do? Are people coming to you for the same thing? What doors are consistently opening on your behalf that continue to line up with what has been revealed to you? These are just a few things to consider when aligning yourself with the time and season.