Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy; tried and true
And with thanksgiving I’ll be a living
Sanctuary,
Lord for You

I love this song. It reminds me that God wants me to be set apart for His glory! A sanctuary is a consecrated place. A place set aside for special purposes.

Whenever I sing this song I am reminded of the things I still need to work on and the things that God is perfecting in me. That’s right I said perfecting. God is always preparing you for something more. We always reach the end of one leg of the journey.

I am near the end of one leg of my wonderful journey. I have felt God’s pull for quite sometime with this but I was not sure He was telling me this. However, every time I see or hear of woman suffering through depression, taking meds to stay calm, crying out for different life, or in what I call a “spiritual funk”, I know that God was not stuttering when He told me to do this.

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Today there are so many ways to encourage yourself and affirm your value and worth. However, one who loves the Lord must be careful to pay attention to the sources they rely on for affirmation. Here is an example:

I drink Yogi tea because it is one of the most beneficial teas for healthy living I know of. Each tea bag has a little saying on it and while most are pretty good some are a little bit far fetched. Like….

• Empty yourself and let the universe fill you

Stuff like that will get you no where fast because it is most likely founded upon very shaky ground.

There are many things that I am passionate about, but none more than my thirst to please God. Lately this thirst has been deeper than it has ever been. I am not sure if it is the times we live in or just that I am older and more wiser; but I am determined now to do things that way He wants them done.

That has meant letting some people and things go. It has also meant sharing parts of my life that most people would not dare to share with others. Whatever the reason I am in a better place as a result.

Do you see that pretty heart? it represents change for a better me, and you if you choose to accept the challenge as I did. My good friend -really i am not joking – Kelly McCausey has decided it is time to become a better her. What a goal! She took some time to talk about it and open up the challenge to all who will join her on a road that is sure to change lives.

I am in. Most of my readers know that I have been on a journey like this for quite some time. so joining this challenge is right up my alley.

Let me share with you what I will be working on in the next 48 days:

1. Getting into the Word Daily.
2. Journaling daily
3. Stretching
4. Managing my time better
5. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables

Finally Mary shares from “Take Me As I Am” the importance of sharing your story

“You know I’ve been holdin’ on. Try to make me weak, But I still stay strong. Put my life all up in these songs Jus so you can feel me.”

Your story is meant to be shared. Now I am not saying tell it all. I am saying that you need to ask God to show what to share, when and to whom. Be transparent, honest, and open about you.

I spoke to a group of young people about 6 months ago. My topic was your gifts and your purpose. In sharing about gifts and purpose I was led to share my testimony about being sexually abused as a child. Now I had no idea where the Holy Spirit was going with it but I obeyed.