What do you say about his dreams?
While I am truly overwhelmed by the significance of the results of our recent Presidential election, there is one force of this entire historical event that has me inspired most and that is Michelle LaVaughn Robinson-Obama.
If ever a woman has inspired me to be a better wife, this woman has done it! Is there any doubt that Michelle is a force along side her husband? Proverbs 31:11 says "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." It goes on to say in in verse 23 "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." I think we now know Barak!
We may think we are doing the best we can but until our husbands hearts safely trust in us; until they are known in the gates because of how we take care of them; wives, we are missing something. How many of you wives can truly say, " I just love me some (insert your husbands name here)?" or do you constantly complain about what he is or is not? Are you his best friend? His confidant? Is he excelling because of your help (help meet)? If he is afraid, can he share that fear? If he has a dream, can he share it without you laughing or fearing?
I believe that without a doubt, that First Lady Obama knows her husband and although well-educated in her own right, does not think it beneath her to ensure that her children are well taken care of so that her husband can pursue his destiny.
Can you imagine the conversation that must have taken place? Barak: "Honey I'm going to run for President of the United States." Michelle: "OK, let's do it." The conversation may not have been this simple but the end result is that first, I believe they discussed it and I believe she was with him all the way. Would this be the conversation in your home? If your husband came home today and said "I want to be President.", would you laugh? Would you remind him of all the bills that need to be paid while he is dreaming? What would you say? When was the last time your husband shared his dreams with you? What is his vision for not only his life but the life of your family? Have you asked? Are you willing to submit and follow the plan that God has given him like you said you would when you took your vows?
As women, we sometimes think that just because we are the emotional beings that our men have just grown up and are workers and providers but have no dreams. If he is the President of a dream, you need to be Co-President. Make it a priority to learn your husbands dreams and create an atmosphere so that his heart safely trusts in you.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Integrity: Your Word is Your Bond
OK, I have been wanting to write about this one for quite a while...so here goes!
I went on the web to find the origination of the term, "Your Word is Your Bond" and was amazed at how many websites popped up speaking about integrity! I actually didn't even get as far as the origination because I felt compelled to just get this out because obviously others are experiencing the repercussions of "integrity-challenged" folk.
For me, this has been a season of unrest. Not unrest as in not resting in God but lack of sleep! You see, being a person of integrity takes a lot of work and energy and yes; extra hours!
At the end of the summer, I began to realize that lack of integrity from myself and others was forming my world in a way that I did not want it to be formed. My Bishop, (Bishop Wayne T. Jackson-Detroit) always says, "If you don't like the scene you're in, rewrite the script."
I have just rewritten my current scene. You see, I have been in business full time/working from home for the past seven years and when I started out, I never promised more than I could return but gave more! As time went on, I began to have relationships with people that made me want to take care of them at all costs. Even at the cost of me being worn out; but without a lot of returns.
Now that I have repented (turned away from that thing) in my own life; it is magnified in how others interact with me. Never in all of these years have I experienced more lack of integrity especially from those of the household of faith. 99.9% of it is not intentional; deadlines are not met, financial obligations are not met but it has impact! When you are not who you say you are, it impacts others. Lack of integrity causes others to work harder, to make excuses for you. It causes others to not eat; to lose their homes and cars! In church, it causes some to stumble and wonder whether they can actually live this life that they are promised they can live.
Integrity is not about "them" but about "me". Integrity should come as easily as breathing. Integrity is raw honesty about what you have and don't have; what you can and cannot do. I end each day now (before prayer) by asking myself how much time I have the next day to devote to each person, each task and each project. It is a real number of hours, not some imagined Super Woman schedule that excludes eating, sleeping, God and Family. No, we must be real about it.
And guess what? Integrity is not full of emotions! It just is. You do what you say not matter how you feel about the other person or how they responded to you. You said it so do it!
I have in the past, overcommitted myself to clients and had them overcommitt payments to me. This eventually has resulted in me continuing to run my business but also going back into the workforce. What is most amazing is the clients that are disappointed that I am no longer a their beck and call throughout the day when their lack of integrity to payment is what helped to get me here. (LOL) This is not at all a rant because all is well with my sleepy soul but it is a call to reflect. For all of us to take a look in the mirror at what world we have created by our word,. A call to ourselves to insist on living with a character of integrity.
Here's the deal, we've heard this statement and it rings true: We can tell someones character by the words that they speak and the promises that they keep. Bottom line, what are you promising and then blaming others for not taking care of? What are the promises that you are making to yourself that you are not keeping?
Ecclesiastes 5:5-Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
I mentioned earlier that being a person of integrity takes a lot of time and energy but it also takes being silent. If you can't do it; don't say it. If you think you can, plan it out and be sure. Luke 14:28 says "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"
Hellooooo??? is this thing on? Do you have time to do what you say you will do? Do you have the money to pay who you say you will pay? NO EXCUSES! Come on people! Our President-Elect has made a lot of promises and from what I can see, his goal is to execute what he has promised to the best of his ability. How so with you? Are you talking so much and promising so much that you don't even know what you've said? Who is suffering because of your lack of integrity and how will that sown seed come back to you?
Like I said before I never really found the origination of "Your Word is Your Bond" I believe that it means that Your Word is what causes you to be free or in bondage. If the truth shall make you free then speak the truth about what you can and cannot do and you shall be free indeed.
And now for a brief flashback to my 5th grade school spelling bee Champion moment.
Integrity. I-N-T-E-G-R-I-T-Y! Integrity. Just do it!
I went on the web to find the origination of the term, "Your Word is Your Bond" and was amazed at how many websites popped up speaking about integrity! I actually didn't even get as far as the origination because I felt compelled to just get this out because obviously others are experiencing the repercussions of "integrity-challenged" folk.
For me, this has been a season of unrest. Not unrest as in not resting in God but lack of sleep! You see, being a person of integrity takes a lot of work and energy and yes; extra hours!
At the end of the summer, I began to realize that lack of integrity from myself and others was forming my world in a way that I did not want it to be formed. My Bishop, (Bishop Wayne T. Jackson-Detroit) always says, "If you don't like the scene you're in, rewrite the script."
I have just rewritten my current scene. You see, I have been in business full time/working from home for the past seven years and when I started out, I never promised more than I could return but gave more! As time went on, I began to have relationships with people that made me want to take care of them at all costs. Even at the cost of me being worn out; but without a lot of returns.
Now that I have repented (turned away from that thing) in my own life; it is magnified in how others interact with me. Never in all of these years have I experienced more lack of integrity especially from those of the household of faith. 99.9% of it is not intentional; deadlines are not met, financial obligations are not met but it has impact! When you are not who you say you are, it impacts others. Lack of integrity causes others to work harder, to make excuses for you. It causes others to not eat; to lose their homes and cars! In church, it causes some to stumble and wonder whether they can actually live this life that they are promised they can live.
Integrity is not about "them" but about "me". Integrity should come as easily as breathing. Integrity is raw honesty about what you have and don't have; what you can and cannot do. I end each day now (before prayer) by asking myself how much time I have the next day to devote to each person, each task and each project. It is a real number of hours, not some imagined Super Woman schedule that excludes eating, sleeping, God and Family. No, we must be real about it.
And guess what? Integrity is not full of emotions! It just is. You do what you say not matter how you feel about the other person or how they responded to you. You said it so do it!
I have in the past, overcommitted myself to clients and had them overcommitt payments to me. This eventually has resulted in me continuing to run my business but also going back into the workforce. What is most amazing is the clients that are disappointed that I am no longer a their beck and call throughout the day when their lack of integrity to payment is what helped to get me here. (LOL) This is not at all a rant because all is well with my sleepy soul but it is a call to reflect. For all of us to take a look in the mirror at what world we have created by our word,. A call to ourselves to insist on living with a character of integrity.
Here's the deal, we've heard this statement and it rings true: We can tell someones character by the words that they speak and the promises that they keep. Bottom line, what are you promising and then blaming others for not taking care of? What are the promises that you are making to yourself that you are not keeping?
Ecclesiastes 5:5-Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
I mentioned earlier that being a person of integrity takes a lot of time and energy but it also takes being silent. If you can't do it; don't say it. If you think you can, plan it out and be sure. Luke 14:28 says "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"
Hellooooo??? is this thing on? Do you have time to do what you say you will do? Do you have the money to pay who you say you will pay? NO EXCUSES! Come on people! Our President-Elect has made a lot of promises and from what I can see, his goal is to execute what he has promised to the best of his ability. How so with you? Are you talking so much and promising so much that you don't even know what you've said? Who is suffering because of your lack of integrity and how will that sown seed come back to you?
Like I said before I never really found the origination of "Your Word is Your Bond" I believe that it means that Your Word is what causes you to be free or in bondage. If the truth shall make you free then speak the truth about what you can and cannot do and you shall be free indeed.
And now for a brief flashback to my 5th grade school spelling bee Champion moment.
Integrity. I-N-T-E-G-R-I-T-Y! Integrity. Just do it!
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