Forgiveness

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If you look up the word forgiveness in Google, you will find there are many varied definitions. There are too many to go into. My definition of forgiveness is: Releasing your self from someone else’s offense that brought you into their personal emotional and spiritual captivity.

What did Jesus say as he was dying on the cross? He told God to forgive them because they didn’t know what they’re doing. When the disciples were questioning how many times they were supposed to forgive someone, Jesus told them to forgive 70 x 7 times. In other words he meant, endless times. Our tendency is to forgive once and then never again – even if that one time is forgiveness. 

When someone hurts us, usually our own personal defenses are what come to the surface. We instantly want to protect ourselves. We tend to want to start criticizing that person for what they did to offend us. When we are in this place it becomes fertile ground for bitterness, anger, and resentment to begin to grow in us. Before we know it, we are carrying all these feelings and emotions inside resulting in a refusal to forgive that person. We eventually feel like we are justified having the feelings we do. 

The questions we need to be asking ourselves are: Why do I feel this way? What am I trying to protect in me that keeps me from forgiving this person? Who am I to hold this action over one’s head for the rest of their lives? Why do I feel justified to do this? Why does this un-forgiveness in me want to drive me into a downward spiral of bitterness and anger (which may be where the person who offended me is)? Do I love me? Do I love this person that hurt me?

If we can identify the ‘why’, then we can understand what keeps us from forgiving them. Do we love and care about ourselves enough to say, ‘listen, I love myself enough to understand that it is doing me zero good to carry this around’. If we love ourselves that much, then we are able to love the offender that much. 

Forgiveness doesn’t just release you, but also releases them. You are releasing yourself from the hurt that you felt, and you are releasing them from the action they did to hurt you. If we cannot forgive, then we have become like the offender. Refusing to forgive someone is not love. Love says, I can release you from the hurt you have subjected me to. When we forgive, it tells that person that they are worth the opportunity to change. Forgiveness is NOT justifying the actions of the offender, but it is releasing them from the grip it has on you.  

I am a firm believer that God is not sitting on a big chair just waiting to hit me over the head with a hammer because of all my wrongs. God is love! That is the only way I can simply define God for me. If I have been made in His image, then it is my endeavor to come into His likeness. I believe if God can forgive those who killed Him, then I can certainly forgive someone that offended me. I can love that person because I love myself.

Warmly,

Veronica

P.S. I would love to hear from you! Do you struggle with forgiveness? Do you struggle with loving yourself? Throw some thoughts my way on what some of the daily challenges are that you face. Comment below or email me at freelyauthentic@gmail.com

The World is Counting on Us!

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Photo by Aaron Schwartz on Pexels.com

I have never been one to get deep into the political conversation. I prefer to just stay out of it because of the amount of tension, animosity and downright cruelty that seems to be in that arena. I believe we can all definitely have our political differences. That’s the beauty of our country. We have the greatest liberties of any country in the world.

There has been so much happening this year and to think that an election is just around the corner is kinda scary right now. I don’t know about you, but what I have seen experienced the last four years has driven me to be even more aware and more conscious of who is leading our country. I personally do not care for the current President, but I also don’t care for the one running for the office either. So, how do I vote? Do I vote for the popular candidate? Do I vote for Biden just because of what I think of Trump? Do I vote for Trump because of what I think of Biden? Do I vote for the one who fights against abortion and same sex marriage or the one that believes there is freedom of choice? Do I vote for acknowledgment in climate change or not? Do I vote for the one that fritters about the notion that COVID-19 is a hoax? Do I vote for the one that is taking it seriously and wears a mask, not worrying about his image? Do I vote for the one that is sincerely trying to connect with American people? The one that has said there is a better way than the last four years we have all experienced? There is so much that goes into voting for someone. I have never been more serious about it than I am this year.

It doesn’t matter who is in office, there will always be a difference of beliefs and opinions. I don’t think there will ever be someone in the office of President that the people will agree with 100%. I’m not saying who I will be voting for, but there is a lot to process and think about. I have to ask myself, who would I want my children and grandchildren to see as a leader as an example of American patriotism, for the people and not themselves? You might say one and I might say the other. That’s the way it goes.

What I can say is, I certainly have not enjoyed the last four years. The slander, the cynicism, the cruel words thrown around and aimed at individuals. How about the lack of concern about a pandemic that has ravaged the world, the laze-de-faire or cavalier attitude going from a world leader that has hurt so many people that have lost loved ones to this disease? Now, will the next guy be any better? Only God knows! Biden will definitely have his ways and his weaknesses that will show up eventually.

We used to be a leading country in the world. A country that everyone wanted to be like. We were a model of democracy! We were a model of freedom, refuge and justice. Now we turn away those that have the deepest cry within them to come and find refuge and a life of liberty and pursuit of happiness. We cage children and send away their parents that are only trying to give a better life for their children. We have resorted to violence in place of the process for justice. We now have reason to take a life instead of trying to save it; i.e. George Floyd and others. Not to mention the countless abortions.

The protests and rioting that has plagued our cities this year have been a cry of “enough is enough”. Yet, this violence does nothing to solve the problem. Do we have a right to be angry? Hell yes! But if we could lay our anger aside and talk about the issues and come up with solutions instead of fighting, that would be the difference maker. We are too busy making sure our voice gets heard. When the loudness is quieted, the solution can be heard, because it’s the silent cry of the heart that is screaming within all of us to be heard!

I could keep going, but I just wanted to give what push I could to make sure you get out and vote, because our children and the immigrant children in cages are counting on us. The black communities in America are counting on us. The essential health workers are counting on us. The animals around the world are counting on us.

The world…is counting on our vote!

Respectfully,

Veronica

Someone to be the Greatest Love

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We all know how 2020 started! It started out with the promise! The slate had been cleared of all 2019’s mistakes and regrets. A new year always gives us fresh hope, new perspective, new goals and desires. At the end of that year we look back and we can see if we were successful with our goals, and if our perspective on life changed at all. Little did we know that the year 2020 would literally be “the year from hell”.

Now as we hit October 2020 we have seen this year our nation has been catapulted to a place we’ve never been before. I, as I’m sure you, can remember when COVID-19 hit. We watched it rapidly spread all over the world. We have had over a million deaths, but thank God, also several million recoveries. We have seen the world basically shut down. Businesses close, schools close, airlines grounded, unemployment skyrocketed, suicide rates have risen to an alarming amount, domestic abuse cases rose, teenagers going crazy at home being separated from friends and our essential workers exposed and taking great risk on a daily basis. We have had to set our personal opinions aside and follow the direction of our government leaders to help protect each one of us, while they navigated the murky waters of this virus.

Beyond the pandemic, we have seen more land burned in one year than any other year in history. As I write this, it stands at over 4 million acres. Our forests have continued to burn with more fires starting on a daily basis. Is it climate change or is it the failure of our federal and local governments to take care of our forests? It’s both!! Our firefighters are exhausted and we are tired of the destruction, tired of the loss of life. We are tired of the relentless smoky air that penetrates the lungs. The amount of lives, homes, businesses, and the beautiful wineries lost in the Napa Valley is devastating.

As if these were not bad enough, then we had the killing of George Floyd. This began the racial protests in cities around the country. The rise of violence increasing in these hot spots has our police on edge, because they are the ones being protested against. They have become the enemy instead of our protectors. Mothers and fathers have lost children, and children have lost fathers and mothers etc.

To top the year off, we have a presidential election happening. Oh my God, are you freaking serious? Need I say anymore?

Daily we ask ourselves, how much more can we take as people, and as a nation? The world is wracked with grief from this pandemic, and our nation is reeling from racial violence, social injustice, destructive wildfires, lockdowns and a presidential election in the midst of a reign of chaos.

What do we do? How do we become a conduit of change? How can we continue in this seemingly never-ending chaos?

I suggest we look at the bigger picture, but yet a more refined picture. We see the world and what is currently happening. How many of us, stop and look at ourselves? I don’t mean look at what suffering we are going through and what is against us, etc. But, let us look at what who we are!

Deep down, in our true being, beyond our surface and superficiality, we are resilient people. We are strong. We are fighters. We are determined. We have all been victims of something, but we are also survivors. We are passionate. We are compassionate. We are people that care. We are a benevolent people. We are a people that know how to rise from devastation. We are a people that can rise above the destruction, the lofty ideals of mans ego, and rise above the chaos and know that this, too, shall pass. Why? Because we were all born to love. Yes, we can love those that disagree with us. We can love those that cause the violence, devastation and destruction.

My heart breaks for this country. For my grandchildren! What is the world going to be like when they become adults? This is my greatest fear right now. Will they have the freedoms we have now? Will this nation succumb to control? Will this nation stop caring about the climate, our forests, our poor and homeless etc.? There is much to be done to leave this world to our grandchildren in a much better place than it is now.

The only way to begin again is…to love!

To end this, I leave you with a few words from a song by James Blunt, The Greatest. These words are for our children and their children after them. But also, those of us who are still alive and kicking, well, it’s for us as well!

Be the young, the brave, the powerful

‘Cause the world is standing waiting

For someone to come and change it

Be the young, the brave, the powerful

‘Cause we need a soul to save us

We need someone to be the greatest love

Love Is…

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LOVE IS…

Patient…

Kind…

Does not Envy…

Does not Boast…

Is not Proud…

Does not Dishonor…

Is not Self-Seeking…

Is not Angered…

Keeps no records of Wrong…

Does not delight in Evil…

Rejoices in Truth…

Always Protects…

Always Trusts…

Always Hopes…

Always Perseveres…

Love NEVER fails…

 

Do we really know what LOVE is?
We may say it all the time, but I don’t think we actually stop enough and think about what we are saying. Has the word and meaning of love just become another cliché?
Just a reminder, today…stop and think about what it means to you when you say, “I love you” to someone. What act of love will you share today?
Just something on my mind today…would love to hear what love means to you!
~ Veronica

Seeing God in All

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From birth to death is a journey into the unknown. Whether or not we realize it, everyday is a searching for meaning, purpose and belonging. We long to have a strong purpose, to make a difference somehow and make the world a better place, so we have that sense of belonging.

From the moment we are conceived our world begins to develop slowly over a period of 9 months, then we are thrust into a whole new world at birth where the development almost starts all over again. The first time we open our eyes, what do we see? It’s most often going to be the face of our mother or father. Slowly we grow and develop physically as well as emotionally and mentally. Our worlds are beginning to take shape and form because of the way we literally see things. There are no boundaries as an infant, then as we develop into toddlers, the word “no” is introduced and all of a sudden all the parameters and boundaries are put in place. The boundaries are intentionally placed there with love, to protect us from hurting ourselves, and others.

As we grow, the filters that we use to process information through began forming, I believe at the first ‘no’. These filters will sometimes expand and sometimes narrow down and get smaller and tighter. We begin to see the world around us, and our personal world differently with every filter we put into place. These filters can be innocently formed by rejection, loss, disappointment, and unfulfilled expectations, but also by love, acceptance, acknowledgement etc. Each of us personally decide what filter we are going to use to process the information that gets thrown at us on a daily, moment by moment basis. Whatever filter we use will determine our response!

Over the period of the last year or so, I have been on this personal journey to see God in everything and everyone. God IS all and IN all! Our filters have told us what He is in and what He is not in. Growing up in a strict religious home, my filters were put into place at a very early age. I was told what was good and what was evil. I was told what I could or could not do. Told what I could or could not say. So, now as a woman in my 50’s I have been walking down a path not knowing who I was. My life had been so filled with being and pleasing everyone around me, because I didn’t know how to be me!

I’m tired of religion, I’m tired of religious people and churches. It’s all a big production. Sometimes it feels as if God is not even in the churches today. I can find God, or maybe see Him more in the bum on the street, in the person feeding a community of hungry people. I see Him in the nurse that is holding a wife who just lost her husband or in the teacher that has endless patience, devotion and passion to the children he/she is entrusted with everyday.

If you’re like me, you were raised to believe that God is not in the homosexual, He’s not in the abuser, He’s not in the alcoholic or the drug user. God is only in those that are doing the “right thing”! Which to me have been those people that are judgmental, critical and constantly defaming or shaming those that don’t believe like they do. THIS is NOT God! God is love…period!

So where do you see God? Every single human being that has ever been born on this earth since the creation, have ALL been created in the image of God! God is in each one of us, but our filters have told us to decide whom He is in and whom He is not in. I don’t know about you, but I’m really sick of the hypocrisy that the body of believers, called the church, walks in today. We turn away and reject the homeless, the homosexual and the drug addict. Where is the church touching those in need, outside of the 4 walls of the church building?

So again I ask, where do you see God? Do your filters limit your eyes to see those around you? Do your filters cause you to see a line that separates you from ‘them’? We are all children of God, no matter our color, gender, straight or gay, rich or poor, etc. I encourage you to see things a little differently. Try to see God in the next homeless person you come across. Don’t look at their circumstances, because you could be there too. Look into their eyes, and into their heart…I guarantee you will see God in them!

Love,

~ Veronica ~

Seeing God in All

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From birth to death is a journey into the unknown. Whether or not we realize it, everyday is a searching for meaning, purpose and belonging. We long to have a strong purpose, to make a difference somehow and make the world a better place, so we have that sense of belonging.

From the moment we are conceived our world begins to develop slowly over a period of 9 months, then we are thrust into a whole new world at birth where the development almost starts all over again. The first time we open our eyes, what do we see? It’s most often going to be the face of our mother or father. Slowly we grow and develop physically as well as emotionally and mentally. Our worlds are beginning to take shape and form because of the way we literally see things. There are no boundaries as an infant, then as we develop into toddlers, the word “no” is introduced and all of a sudden all the parameters and boundaries are put in place. The boundaries are intentionally placed there with love, to protect us from hurting ourselves, and others.

As we grow, the filters that we use to process information through began forming, I believe at the first ‘no’. These filters will sometimes expand and sometimes narrow down and get smaller and tighter. We begin to see the world around us, and our personal world differently with every filter we put into place. These filters can be innocently formed by rejection, loss, disappointment, and unfulfilled expectations, but also by love, acceptance, acknowledgement etc. Each of us personally decide what filter we are going to use to process the information that gets thrown at us on a daily, moment by moment basis. Whatever filter we use will determine our response!

Over the period of the last year or so, I have been on this personal journey to see God in everything and everyone. God IS all and IN all! Our filters have told us what He is in and what He is not in. Growing up in a strict religious home, my filters were put into place at a very early age. I was told what was good and what was evil. I was told what I could or could not do. Told what I could or could not say. So, now as a woman in my 50’s I have been walking down a path not knowing who I was. My life had been so filled with being and pleasing everyone around me, because I didn’t know how to be me!

I’m tired of religion, I’m tired of religious people and churches. It’s all a big production. Sometimes it feels as if God is not even in the churches today. I can find God more in the bum on the street, in the person feeding a community of hungry people. I see Him in the nurse that is holding a wife who just lost her husband or in the teacher that has endless patience, devotion and passion to the children he/she is entrusted with everyday.

If you’re like me, you were raised to believe that God is not in the homosexual, He’s not in the abuser, He’s not in the alcoholic or the drug user. God is only in those that are doing the “right thing”! Which to me have been those people that are judgmental, critical and constantly defaming or shaming those that don’t believe like they do. THIS is NOT God! God is love…period!

So where do you see God? Every single human being that has ever been born on this earth since the creation, have ALL been created in the image of God! God is in each one of us, but our filters have told us to decide whom He is in and whom He is not in. I don’t know about you, but I’m really sick of the hypocrisy that the body of believers, called the church, walks in today. We turn away and reject the homeless, the homosexual and the drug addict. Where is the church touching those in need, outside of the 4 walls of the church building?

So again I ask, where do you see God? Do your filters limit your eyes to see those around you? Do your filters cause you to see a line that separates you from ‘them’? We are all children of God, no matter our color, gender, straight or gay, rich or poor, etc. I encourage you to see things a little differently. Try to see God in the next homeless person you come across. Don’t look at their circumstances, because you could be there too. Look into their eyes, and into their heart…I guarantee you will see God in them!

Love,

Veronica

You Are Worth It

We all have something we are allowing to have power within us that keeps us from stepping into all that God wants to bless us with.

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I’m not one for amusement rides, especially roller coasters, but I bring the kids to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and release them go have fun. I wait! As I sit here in the shade where the breeze is cool I’m watching multitudes of people walking by. As I’ve been observing these people, I see all different sizes, shapes, color, short hair, long hair, man-buns, no buns, braids, pony-tails, shaved heads etc. and there isn’t a one of them that look anything alike. The differences I see in people is absolutely stunning. As I think about it even deeper, I think of how different each person sees the world, sees their world, their family, and how they see themselves. How they see their circumstances and finances and more. Each one is so specific in how they look, see, feel, touch and communicate. More on this later.

Recently we’ve been involved in a situation that we innocently stepped into, but little did we know the mess we would end up being in. We loaned our small car we tow behind our RV, when we need to, to a single mother of 10. Her car happened to break down the final day she was helping me with a project. We told her she could drive our car for the next couple of weeks because we weren’t in dire need of it. Told her she could use it until a specific date. Long story short, the car ended up getting stolen and then finally returned and we gave the offer to buy her a decent car that she would be able to depend on. After much conversation she agreed. The plan was to meet and buy this specific car. She never showed up. Now, there are a lot more details to this story that I am not sharing, but after lots of back and forth, and her changing stories, nothing seemed to match up over this whole time. BUT, we still pursued, wanting to bless her and her kids. Unfortunately, the favor of heaven that was on us to bless her and her family was not received.

I have been troubled by this and wondered why a single mother in need would avoid, turn away, lie and just about steal to keep her from receiving a blessing. What was keeping her from this? It reminded me of my childhood, where my mother was a single mom, 7 kids in tow and refused to accept any help such as food stamps (back then) and never wanted to ask for help from anyone. I was starting to get a bit irritated and offended at the lack of gratefulness and acceptance of our gift to her. I was kind of stewing on this and it dawned on me that she was under the influence of so much shame and guilt that she couldn’t even recognize the gift that was being given to her. She’s been wracked with guilt and shame because of her past and her present situation. Needless to say, I repented.

It made me wonder how many of us walk around with such guilt, condemnation and shame over us? How often do we allow what we carry to keep us from accepting the many gifts that God has…just for us?? Our self-perception is tainted, warped and twisted when we don’t see ourselves as God sees us. We find ourselves to be unworthy, carrying false humility and full of pride.

So, back to the differences in people. Bottom line is, we are all so different on the outside, but so much the same inside. We are all carrying “stuff”, no matter if we have the most expensive clothes and the biggest house and an expensive car. Even if we are living in the gutter with nothing, we all have something we are allowing to have power within us that keeps us from stepping into all that God wants to bless us with. God desires to lavish Himself upon us in a multitude of ways.

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My question to all of reading this: What do you carry that is keeping you from stepping into the freedom and liberty that is available, so you can receive the countless blessings of Heaven? Come as you are to God and allow Him to take the burden of guilt, condemnation, shame, fear, and pride from your life. There is so much more for you in God. You know why? Because…

YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING HE IS AND GIVES because you came from HIM!     HE created you! HE loves you!

Blessings,

Veronica

Intimidation is Ugly

When we are secure in who we are, no matter where we are in life, in all aspects/areas, then we cannot be intimidated nor would we have the need to compare ourselves to anyone else because we know who we are and whose we are!

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Intimidation is an ugly thing. As someone that has usually been an introverted type personality and more on the quiet side, it’s always been very easy for me to be intimidated by strong people that come across my path.

Intimidation comes across as being very dominant and can make us feel like we aren’t good enough or we feel “less than”…both are practically the same. Some other feelings it can bring are discouragement, fear, restraint, or it can also make us feel threatened, withdrawn, insecure and not good enough. It has a tendency to leave us feeling controlled and powerless.

None of us like to be intimidated. Sometimes we can be experiencing this ugly thing in a particular moment, but not even realize what it is. Intimidation will always cause us to look inward and think it’s our fault we are feeling these different emotions and such. For those that are more on the quiet side or more introverted, it seems the first place we look at, is ourselves and how weak we are or how powerless we are. We begin to compare ourselves with the one projecting the intimidation.

Recently, I was contemplating about a certain person that is a friend, but I always seem to feel intimidated around them. This person very powerful prophetically, in personality and in a lot of other ways. But being around this person was difficult at times and when the opportunities presented themselves, I would find myself trying, or wishing, to get out of having to be around them. As I was pondering this a few mornings ago, I felt like I heard the Holy Spirit say, “If you are intimidated then you are not comfortable with who you are”.

Intimidation is nothing more than comparison. I’ve always heard it said this way…comparison kills! It really does. That is just how the enemy (devil) would like it. He always comes after our identity before he goes after anything else. If he can attack our identity then he has an open door to wreak havoc in our lives. If he can get us to believe the lies that intimidation releases, then we will slowly be broken down and end up having no identity at all. His number one goal is to make us feel unidentifiable and as small as he can!

When we are secure in who we are, no matter where we are in life, in all aspects/areas, then we cannot be intimidated nor would we have the need to compare ourselves to anyone else because we know who we are and whose we are!

If you are feeling intimidation at any time, stop for a moment and declare your identity. Do not partner with the lie that makes you feel small or powerless. You are powerful, not weak! Declare the opposite of what intimidation is trying to make you feel. Speaking it out loud will also show you are not intimidated. God is everything you declare Him to be to you. How does God see you? Declare what He says about you!

~ Veronica

The Value of Your Crown

My small thinking had kept me from believing the enormous value I have to God and to the world.

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I am typically a very early riser because it’s so quiet. Just about the only quiet there will be until the family is in bed again. My morning routine is to get up, get a cup of coffee, read or just sit in the dark and pray/ponder/meditate etc., and then take our dog out for a walk. While out on my morning walk recently, I came across this very small tiara in the middle of the sidewalk. It was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand and looked like it belonged on a doll. The intriguing thing was that it was not a plastic tiara it was metal and had some weight to it. So I knew it must have been an expensive doll it belonged to.

I wondered at the meaning of finding this crown just laying in the middle of the sidewalk. I placed it on my bookshelf and have continually wondered why I found this. If you believe or are at all prophetic then there seems to be a meaning to just about everything that happens. I don’t believe there are any accidents. Everything has a purpose. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven”.

Fast-forward a few weeks. I’m sitting in a class that I am currently taking at our church. The speaker that was sharing on the lies we believe about ourselves. How are we seeing ourselves that isn’t the same way God sees us? God created each of us so individually unique and so different from any other person in the world. Even twins are going to be different in personality and emotional makeup etc. So I began to think about what lie I had believed. The first thing that popped up was the lie that I had small thinking about myself. We were then walked through a process of repentance and asking God how He sees us.

The night continued on and another speaker, our leaders wife, got up and she had several hats stacked on top of each other on her head. She began to say what each hat represented and would toss it aside. She came to what I thought was the last hat and she told us what it represented and then proceeded to say that what was under this hat was her very favorite one. She removed the hat and there was this big, beautiful tiara fit for any princess to adorn. I immediately knew what that little tiara meant now!

For my entire life practically, I’ve thought myself to be simple, humble, flexible, easy-going, not obnoxious, loud or boastful. I’ve dreamed big dreams, but always doubted they would ever happen. I’ve often felt like I have failed at so many things. I wasn’t this Mom that was blessed to ‘have it all together’. I’m not a person that likes to be in large crowds or even small crowds. I never liked to be in the spotlight. I’d rather be behind the scenes. I can serve extremely well, but I’m not the greatest leader. These were things I always believed about myself.

When I saw that beautiful tiara I knew that it was confirmation of why I had found that little crown. I felt like the point was this…for so long I had seen the value of who I am as the size of that little tiara I found. God wants me to see the value of who I am as the size of that large beautiful tiara. I was meant for royalty, for beauty, for grace, and for having priceless value. I belong in a house of royalty and I have always been worthy of wearing such a beautiful crown.

My small thinking had kept me from believing the enormous value I have to God and to the world. Now, that doesn’t mean the way I thought changed instantly. Now it’s a process of renewing my mind and the way I’m thinking, believing and speaking about who I am. It’s not easy to break a cycle that has been happening for years and years.

So I encourage you to take a look at yourself and what do you see? If what you see doesn’t agree with what God sees, then you might take the opportunity to repent of the lie you’ve believed and ask Him to show you how He sees you! What crown do you see on your head and what crown does God see on your head?

Great grace to you on your journey!
Veronica

“To feel like a queen is as simple as believing you are one”

Fully Surrendered

I believe true surrender is a heart positioned and postured in a place that God has the greatest influence…

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What does it mean to be fully surrendered?

I remember as a child in church, always sing the song “I Surrender All”. It was one of three songs that was sung at the end of the sermon and was sung as an altar call song. Powerful song, powerful message, but it also had a way of making you feel guilty, like you were a sinner, so almost every time I would be compelled to go to the altar and repent, thus getting saved over and over again. Religion has a way of making us feel guilty and full of shame.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about what it means to be fully surrendered. When we say “I surrender all” I believe it has just become another cliché term that we Christians tend to use all the time, not really ever having a revelation of what it fully means.

I’ll have to be honest and say that I have always had to notion that being fully surrendered to God meant that He controlled my life, my decisions, my thoughts etc. and the thing to do was respond like a robot…haha. Another thought was being fully surrendered meant I didn’t make the decision, but He would make it for me. Basically I was relinquishing control of my life over to Him and He would tell me who, what, where, when and why. I no longer had a say in how my life turned out in the long run.

After years of walking through this as a child and growing up in the religious church, I’ve realized that obviously, this is not really what surrender is. So, recently I’ve had this question running through my thoughts as to what true surrender looks like.

I believe true surrender is a heart positioned and postured in a place that God has the greatest influence over my thoughts, my actions, my behaviors, and my decisions. Thus influencing what road I walk down every day or what job I have, what friends I have etc. If He is truly Lord over my life then He will have the greatest influence over my life. His influence does not look like me being controlled or manipulated by Him, but I will be given the greatest amount of grace that will overshadow me to the point that my decisions will be influenced by His voice and His heart for my life.

What does God desire to do in me? He will do anything I let Him in to do! Surrender is a decision of the heart to allow God the freedom to influence and impact my life so that it is a part of the greater Kingdom that will change the world. How much room am I going to give Him? He knows my life better than I do. He knows my thoughts before I even think them. He knows the choices I’m going to make before I make them. So, how much am I going to let Him in?

We can have such tunnel vision and only see the small world we are in and not the bigger world that is all around us. But with a heart fully surrendered we will see the world as He sees and He will show us how to become more like Him and change the world.