InCouragements Insight - Authentic Self

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Authentic - not false or copied; genuine; real

The other day I was talking to one of my daughter's teachers, and as we ended the conversation, she says to me and I quote "Ms. Bridges you are authentic, and it makes it a pleasure to talk to you". I was in shock and speechless when she said this, because coming from a very intelligent woman who I actually admire, it was good to hear that she thought of me that way.

When I got off the phone with her, I continued to think of the things she said and especially the word authentic. This world is full of so many fake, and false things and people who are the same way, that it is a rarity to meet real people. I have been told I'm real and trustworthy before, but authentic is something different.

The more and more I thought about this word, I wonder how many of us walk around really pretending, we pretend we are happy, we pretend we like people, we pretend we have good relationships, we pretend we have a relationship with God, in essence we are just pretenders. Being a pretender or false takes a lot of work, because you are constantly having to remember what you are trying to pretend to be.

I used to pretend that I was loved, and thought about from others, but the reality was that I was rejected constantly by men and people I wanted to be my friends. So, when I established a relationship with God, he showed me real love and how to be my real self. My real self was being an encourager, doing for others, and embracing others, by showing them love. As I have done this over the years, I am not always accepted, people still reject me at times, people are back and forth with me as if they are still trying to decide if they want to be friends with me, and I don't always receive the authentic person from these people. Instead of feeling rejected and left out I continue to do what I was created to do and that is to be my Authentic Self, and as human I still feel hurt by these actions, but I now know the problem is not always me.

So, I say to you today start today being the "Authentic" you, if you are already well good for you. But remember by being your Authentic Self you also representing you and God. The other thing she told me and I have heard lately from others is that I had such a spiritual side to me that made them want to seek after whatever I believed in. One person told me I had a light that was so attractive to others. I'm not saying these things to build me up, what I am trying to say is we reach people by being our Authentic Self.

The comments I heard from others were that I was approachable, always trying to help others, and always available to listen. One person said people nowadays have attitudes, where you look at them and are scared to approach them, they don't offer their selves. The other day I was in a meeting at my job with a lady that I have known for quite sometime now, after the meeting she just started talking to me about personal things that were going on in her life. After she finish talking she said I know this seems strange but I felt you would listen, because you always have this smile on your face and it seems genuine. Remember Jesus reached out to the people as he walked city to city and he allowed the people to touch him. Jesus was approachable because he was Authentic.

So I say this today, stop being absorbed with your self and your stuff, stop being mean, and unapproachable. If you are a child of God there is this light about you that others attract to, and want to be a part of. Learn to let others in besides your clique of people you prefer, you never know what they might need from you. I do know that they need your AUTHENTIC SELF!!!!


Be InCouraged
Mechell

InCouragements Insight - Vision

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What is Your Vision?

Vision is a conception that is inspired by God in the heart of a human.

Why are you here? Do you know why you exist? Do you know why you were born? Do you have a vision that you are working towards? How are you facing each day? Is it the same monotonous, repetitive, mundane, routine, tedious, dull, boring everyday scene? Do you wake up on any given day and say I love what I’m doing; this is what I was born to do? Or better yet on Sunday evening do you start dreading Monday morning? Do you wake up and ask yourself and God when will things change, I know this is not what was planned for my life?

Have you allowed your vision to come to light? Or do you just exist daily with no vision? Have you allowed your present circumstances or situations to take over your vision? Without vision life has no meaning, life becomes hopeless.

If you said yes to any of these questions, you do not have a vision for your life. Or you do have a vision but you are not working towards that vision. Ask yourself is there a correlation between your job and your vision? I bet most of your answers are no, and that’s why you daily wake up feeling lost, drained, frustrated, hopeless, and unfulfilled. I know this because most of my life I have felt this way.

A visionless life is a poverty-stricken existence.

My struggle has been having visions that I cannot make come to pass. Dr Myles Munroe says that “It’s depressing and frustrating to have an idea for years that you haven’t yet seen come to pass”. Some of you have had so many dreams and visions that are still unfulfilled, and now you are weary to even dream anymore, so you become complacent and settle into life as it is. I promise you will never be happy living this way, because God designed you uniquely with a vision or visions in your heart to carry out. Eventually you will become depressed, discouraged, frustrated, bitter, hopeless, and you will feel liek a failure.

You were born to carry out your vision!

Today I say to you stop burying the vision or visions God gave you. Stop living a life so unfulfilled that you just exist. Unlock the closed doors and accomplish what God has placed in your heart to conceive. Step out of your comfort zone and step out on faith.

Discover Your Vision!

And when you discover your vision it will give you a passion. In Ecclesiastes 9:10 is states “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

Vision is the source and hope of life !

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs29:18

Be InCouraged

Mechell

InCouragements Insight - LOVE

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Love

I just want to wish all of you a Happy Valentines Day!

I hope all of you feel loved and most important you feel the love of God. If you feel and know the love of God, you will love yourself, and allow love to come towards you.

Take time today to say to yourself first "I Love Me" and then call, text or email others and tell them you love them today, you just might make someone smile today.

I Love You All!

Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.
Romans 12: 10


Be InCouraged
Mechell

InCouragments Insight - Our Children

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Our Children

Most of you that know me know that my daughter Taylor is the most important thing in my life. You all know that I love being a mother and I place parenting at the top of my list of importance.

An incident occurred on this past weekend with Taylor that made me realize how important it is for us to be good, observant and aware parents when it comes to our children. We as parents have to be our childrens protector, encourager, motivator, and an example of what's good and moral in this world.

I ask each of you as parents these questions and please ponder on them:

• Do you find the opportunity to tell your children you love them everyday?

If, not start now and do it on a daily basis, even if it's through text, or email, this also goes for the children away at college or away from home, they are never too old to hear I love you from parents.

• How often do you tell your children they are leaders, that you believe in them, or that they can conquer anything? How often do you encourage them?

Before Taylor leaves the house in the morning I tell her she is "A Leader, Not a Follower", I also recite Phillipians 4:13 to her "She can do anything through Christ that strengthens her" . I used to put post it notes in her lunch with quotes, or just a special note from mommy. (I have to start doing this daily again)

• Do you still have dinner with your child and just sit and talk?

I believe this is the best time to hear what is going on with your children, for some reason while sharing a meal with no other distractions, children like to talk a lot ( at least my child does). How often do you take your children out to breakfast, lunch,or dinner just to hang out, this is a good opportunity to build the relationship with your children. Find something in common that you have with your children, and then do that once a month with your children. One of the many things Taylor and I have in common are that we both have a love for books, so we are regulars at "Borders" . We just sit side by side and read what books interest us, and have these great conversations (my daughter is a fanatic about Greek Mythology, it amazes me). Our new commanality is exercising together, we do Pilates and Zumba(thanks Dre), it has now brought forth a conversation regarding health, she is concerned about what we eat(in particular what I eat, she is my food and exercise Nazi)

• How often do you ask your children what's bothering them, do they need to talk about something?
  

Taylor and I have these sessions called "You can say what you want" this is an opportunity to let her get out anything that's bothering her without any consequences. I allow Taylor to even have a voice when it comes to something she thought I was incorrect about. Remember parenting is an ongoing learning process, and we can learn from our children. These sessions allow her to get emotions out and thoughts out, I always want her to talk openly and freely to me.

Please know this I am not a perfect parent, I am a imperfect person trying to raise a "Phenomanal Kid" that will some day become an "Amazing Adult". I by no means have the perfect parenting techniques, but I am trying hard on a daily basis to be the very best parent I can be to Taylor, she deserves nothing but a 100% from me.

See, we have to realize this, our children did not ask to be a part of this journey we made that decision for them, so we have to be the best at what we do for them. We are their advocates, we fight for their futures, we are responsible for the outcome of their future.

Spend time with your nieces and nephews, my niece is a joy, and it is amazing how much she pays attention to me. A short story regarding my niece Kinzie, she started pre-school this year, and so I wanted to do the same thing with her that I do with Taylor, I wanted her to know that she is a leader. So, I started telling her to say "I'm a leader, not a follower", so she would recite it my way, but then later on she started saying it in her own way, she would say "TeTe" "I'm not following, I'm a leader right", it was too cute, but at least she understood that she should not be following. My point we should be making impact on the kids in our lives, especially the ones close to us, it will follow them to adulthood.

So, in essence let's be more in tune with our children and the children around us, be observant and be involved. I also want you to know that this message is just not for the parents this is for Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Godparents, and any children that are a part of your life. We all can be that village for these children, participate in their lives positively anyway you can. I have some children that I missed out on being a part of their lives, but as young adults I will be the best I can to help them in their future.

Be InCouraged
Mechell