Wednesday, October 25, 2017

#WriterRevelations: What Are You Worth? (Self-Worth)

I know I'm not the only one who has days where you start to lose control of the thoughts and the things that bombard you and your mind. They come in waves and they are creepy crawlies in that you don't detect them at first. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you are insanely happy about something in your life. Maybe you just lost 15 pounds, you finally conquered a massive fear (this year I conquered driving and riding roller coasters), you just started dating someone, or you just published a book. These are all made up scenarios but it seems like the instant life is going good, the bad thoughts creep in to shake things up from the inside out. And then one day, you look in the mirror and you are confused with how things have gotten so off-course.

Truth is: A true sense of identity and/or self-worth must come from within the inner workings of your spirit being.

Before getting serious, let me give you an actual anecdote from my real life. As you may or may not know, I recently became jobless and recently, my family and I had a very huge falling out. Things were said back and forth that were negative, belittling, shameful, and aimed at cutting me down to size according to the perspective of the person who was saying it.

It made me feel hopeless and broken but I chose to forgive anyway because one truth life has made abundantly clear is that oftentimes, someone cuts you down to size because somewhere along the line, something they dealt with, had to go through, or even a wrong thought pattern made them feel hurt they couldn't bear alone and people handle or hurdle the pain that presents itself to them along the journey of their life.

That's why I chose to forgive because I knew the person or persons words and actions were done out of this handling of pain. They feel like they were unfairly shamed, made to feel small, or even worthless. Yet, they aren't even aware that this isn't the entire truth at all. It's not even partially true because your feelings matter but they don't have any basis in truth.

People work long hours and sacrifice their families to gain the approval of an employer and feel valuable at the office. They get in debt buying clothes, cars and houses hoping somehow those things will make them feel more important.


If you trust in Jesus and made Him your Lord, you've been made the righteousness of God. 
Tweet: But have you ever let his sacrifice settle the nagging question of your self worth? #WriterRevelations: What Are You Worth?

A grandson of a preacher I consider to be my spiritual father says it best:


Tweet: The price paid determines the value. The price paid determines your value. #WriterRevelations What Are You Worth?






Until next time, remember, the price paid determines your value. Forget everything except Jesus!

In Christ Like Love and Confidence,
Chelsea
xoxo

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

#WriterRevelations: How and Why Discontentment sets In

September 25, 2017 I decided that I was willing to lose the job I've had for two years. This year alone working this particular job was like trying to live in a house that was situated on an area highly-prone to weekly earthquakes. Some weeks you would only feel tremors, other weeks the 8.1 or higher magnitude waves would shake the ground you were standing on, and you didn't know if this would be the death of you. Financially, some weeks were harder than others but somehow God took care of me throughout this year alone following the signing on of a new client as of the end of January 2017. Before this, this job was as stable as any other freelance gig. You do the work; you follow the instructions of what the client wants in terms of writing or social media management and you get paid. Sounds simple, right? Yes, it was. And I was grateful to be paid for my writing, no matter if it wasn't exactly enough to live on.

 Yet, I never recall a time since graduating from college that my financial resources were completely depleted. God always found a channel to give me exactly what I needed even if it wasn't enough to move out of my parent's house, and be completely free of the impossible expectations I feel I have to meet in order to be loved and accepted by my family, or anyone for that matter. This was where the discontentment seed planted itself in my heart, and as long as things were not changing for me, job-wise, I let it fester. Then, just when I blogged that everything was secure again, I was going to be paid for my 3 weeks of work, plus work a few weeks in October, the client canceled the contract with us, and decided to move on. No explanation as to why but for about a day, I was a little hopeless. Although, I remembered how I felt like a clean slate would be the best place to begin again from. So I accepted the client's decision, despite not at all knowing where I was going to get money to pay my monthly bills let alone buy beauty aids, Christmas presents, and some treats for myself.

 The slate was completely wiped clean. And I've never felt better. It turns out my discontentment wasn't due to the fact that I have to live with my parents or my interferring sisters who care more about my mediocre life than they do about me living my destiny and just being happy with my current life, no matter how unstable it is. My discontentment began to grow leaves and sprout up when I started working for this client. Without going into too much detail, I can honestly feel a weight has been lifted off my chest and I am content to see what God has in store for me next now that my only source is Him, and Him alone.

If left unchecked, this dissatisfaction will infect every area of my life. So for today, I plan to keep my focus on all the blessings I have in Jesus. I will thank Him for who he is, for what He has done, and for what He will do in the future. And I hope that will bring me one step closer to learning the secret of being content in any circumstance...and keep me from my own fall.


Some examples of those blessings I have in Jesus:
1. Joint Heir in Christ
2. Forever Forgiven for any and all sin
3 Righteousness of God in Christ
4. Healing of my body, mind, and emotions
5. All things richly to enjoy
6. A roof over my head
7. A bed to sleep on
8. A/C
9. Running water that is safe to drink
10. Never Knowing Hunger that isn't satisfied by proper nutrition
11. Wi-fi
12. A Smartphone
13. My laptops
14. My ipod
15. Gym equipmet
16. Paper and pens to write
17. A printer
18. DVDs
19. Clothes
20. My dogs
21. Extra time with my parents despite being in my mid-twenties
22. Pandora
23. Coffee 
24. Hulu
25. Netflix
26. Laundry Detergent
27. Soap
28. Deodorant
29. Razor
30. Shampoo/Conditioner

I could go on because I could even go further to name all my friends, all my friends via social media, or this blog, or even The Smart Cookie Philes, and all the celebrities I've met.

So really discontent is a lie from the pits of hell and now that I've seen it in the garden of my life, I've pulled that weed up from the roots and not allowed it to destroy all that Jesus died to give me.

   So no matter what happens next, my trust and all I dream is in the hands of my God, at the feet of Jesus, and I refuse to take a thought or care about it.


Now I am not trying to be political here but there has been some recent division regarding whether one should stand during the national anthem. Now I tend to lean one way but for the purpose of the various people reading this post, I will not air my views about this issue but I want each of us to get quiet and join me in the #TakeAKneeChallenge:

Make a list of all the things in your life in this moment that are holding you captive, things you need to see with new eyes. Then claim the promise of Jesus over those things, and rip up the list. He has come- you are FREE!
So in this somewhat uncertain season of my life, I choose Jesus every single time because I would rather be content in Him than discontent in the pleasures and promises of this world. If, like me, you are in a severe drought season, your slate is completely clean, and you are in immediate need of provision of some kind (healing, deliverance, or even monetary provision), please know this is your direct confirmation from the throne room of heaven that the promise is about to manifest in your life. Get ready for your YES to come raining down!

Until next time, 

In Christ-Like Love and Confidence,
Chelsea
xoxo

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