Hi RADsters!

Happy New Month! Gosh, can you believe it’s December already?! Some would say that the first half of the year went by veeeerrrryyy sloowwwllyy, but the second half? it felt like I blinked in July and opened my eyes in December.

Shorter days longer nights…brisk mornings and brisk-ER nights…Christmas music and Christmas lights. Ahhh yesss, ’tis the season!

We are all getting ready for either Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or one of the many other holidays there are to celebrate in December. Oh, how could I forget…NEW YEAR’S EVE! I can see it now, ladies running around the mall (or scrolling through an online store as I would 🙃) lookin’ for that that one jaw-dropping sparkly/sequin dress or jumpsuit to ring in the new year! (I’ll be turning up at church at the Passover service as always. Personally, this is the best way to ring in a new year.)

2020: The beginning of a new DECADE!! 🤭 *Dun dun dun* Are you ready?! 😱

As it is customary in preparation for a new year, many of us are taking time to sit, reflect, soul search, and take inventory on the year we have had thus far. Most of us ask ourselves “What did I accomplish this year?” “What did I learn?” “What worked well?” “What flopped?” “What served me?” “What could I have done differently?” “What relationships did I cultivate?” “What goals did I actually achieve this year!” and the list goes on and on and on.

I have been in this headspace for the past few weeks as I look toward the end of one decade and the beginning of another. I embrace the unusual assortment of experiences from one decade and anticipate the uncertain yet exciting moments from the next. The experiences and lessons from 2019 bolstered and wrecked me at the same time. 2019 was a year of peaks and troughs- all of which culminate to make me a better Christian, Woman, Daughter, Sister, and Friend. I am wiser than I was on January 1, 2019, I am stronger than I was, and I am more self-aware than I was. I’m almost certain that you are too!

Through all the ups and downs, I gained useful tools to add to my personal handy dandy toolbox, and I’d love to share some with you RADsters! Because a community that learns together grows together.

You ready?! Journal: ✅ Pen: ✅ Tea or Coffee: ✅ LET’S GET IT!

Every year, we all have the innate burning desire to pursue happiness, success, fulfillment, you name it! We set goals and hit the ground running, striving to achieve. You see, unlike some of you reading, I had goals at the beginning of this year that fell through the cracks and ended up unaccomplished. I’ll be honest, I feel disappointed and hurt in my innermost person. However, I hold on to the reality that life and breath in me are clear signs that I have another shot to get it together! God has not given up on me, so neither will I.

In preparation for 2020, I have been intentional about seeking God’s face and praying for clarity and direction, and y’all God has been speaking and instructing. I asked about what needs to be at the forefront of all I do as I step into the new year, and the Bible is true when it says “ask and it shall be given.” God has been talking to me about 3Ps that motivate us in our pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. I believe this is a word for all of us!

What are the 3Ps? you ask…Prestige, Prosperity, Purpose. Now now, I know we are all humble men and women out there. I also know that we all desire and work hard to be respected, recognized, and RICH. We want to be straight-up killin’ it in life and be seen doing it!

Prestige: This is the admiration and respect we receive based on accomplishments and achievements.

Prosperity: This is the state of good fortune and success.  It is oftentimes considered from a financial perspective as being wealthy, but prosperity applies to every aspect of life- health, finances, mental well being, you name it.

Purpose: Simply put, this is the intention or reason for any given thing. Everything has a purpose. Nothing is ever haphazardly created, especially not we humans. We are created in the image and likeness of God Himself.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with desiring prestige AND prosperity. But in all this, I wonder are we are really truly living our best lives? You know the bestseller that God Himself has written about you and me. I wonder if we are not quite living our best lives yet because somewhere along the line, we got our Ps mixed up.

There I was, seated quietly and still in my bedroom, Sun brightly shining, Bible and journal wide open, pen and highlighter in hand ready to receive. A subtle thought permeated my mind “when purpose is your focus, everything else falls into place. Prestige and prosperity are necessary for your pursuit; however, they cannot be your main focus.” At this moment, the word in Matthew 6:33 welled up in my heart. Purpose is directly related to the Kingdom of God. God created you and me on purpose with purpose for His Kingdom. Jeremiah 1:5 “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 

The visual that comes to mind is that of a triangle with Purpose at the top of the triangle, Prestige at one point at the bottom of the triangle, and Prosperity at the other point.

Prioritizing our Ps is essential to our ability to achieve goals and realize visions. If prestige and prosperity are at the forefront of our pursuits, we stand the chance of either participating in unintended assignments or partaking in practices contrary to our innate character. Purpose must come first because it impacts the momentum with which we strive toward goals, it drives us exactly to where God NEEDS our talents and gifts, and it keeps us grounded in the midst of challenges. Without purpose, we lack focus, motivation, direction, and peace.

I’m spending the last few days of 2019 rediscovering God’s purpose(s) for me. I desire to go into 2020 with focus, direction, and peace, and I know you do too! Join me on this journey!

Here are 3 practical ways to journey through rediscovering purpose:

1. Read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I’ve had this book for about 14 years, yet I never really read it intentionally. I’ve decided to study it this season, one chapter a day. Sometimes I read one chapter over 2 days to ponder on the content, and then I journal my thoughts. I encourage you to do the same; you can get a copy here.

2. Read supplemental daily devotional Passion & Purpose by Charles Stanley on the YouVersion App. Amazingly, daily devotionals seem to be in-sync with the chapters I’m reading so far, which helps to solidify the message I glean from the book. NOTE: This won’t always happen because the daily devotional depends on when you start the plan. I personally believe this moment aligned perfectly just for me. Nonetheless, you will learn how to discover and develop God’s purpose for you. Below is how you can get started!

3. Pray Pray Pray. Prayer is key; it changes things. Prayer is communication with God. What better way can we realize our purpose than by talking with the One who created us? God is willing to reveal to you and me His intent for keeping us alive here on earth. He has also given us the Bible as a manual.

I am excited for you to join me on this journey! Let’s find purpose together RADsters. I’d love to make this an active journey to (re)discovering purpose. When you read anything that strikes a chord in your spirit or brings you an “AHA” moment, please share in the comment section below. Sharing is caring; A community that learns together grows together.

Happy discovery! Cheers to gleaning and purposefully walking into 2020!

˜Moyo˜

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I’d like to provide an opportunity to those who are yet to meet with Jesus. If you have a deep desire to know Jesus and enter into the kingdom of God you are in great company. I did at some point in my life, and it was the greatest desire that God ever met! 

I invite you to pray the sinner’s prayer: Dear Jesus, I accept that I am a sinner and I confess my sins before you. I believe that you died for my sins and rose again to give me a new life.  I ask that you forgive me of my sins; cleanse me with your precious blood which you shed on the cross of Calvary. I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior. Fill me up with your Holy Spirit and strengthen me. I profess that I am a new creature; old things have passed away and I have become new in You. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

If you prayed the prayer, WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM FAMILY!! You are a new creature, the old has passed and the new is here! Be sure to find a bible believing, Spirit-led church in your city and purchase a bible in a version that you understand. I use the  New Living Translation, Message, Free Bible, Christian Standard Bible, or the New International Version. Enjoy the journey!