I’m baaaaccckkk! I am so excited to get back to writing! I actually only took a little break as I was still recording podcasts and working on other projects related to Broken to Beautiful. I am very excited about how God is working through this platform! It has been an eventful few months and I have learned a few valuable lessons. I want to share a story with you all about the importance of proper positioning.

A while back, I felt the need to study a very popular story in the Bible. I took notes but didn’t really know what I needed to get from it specifically. While I was cleaning and thinking about this subject, I said Esther! This is the perfect story about the importance of being in the right place at the right time, the “sweet spot”.

Esther has her own book in the Bible, so go check it out. Esther was a Jewish girl that was being raised by her uncle Mordecai in the Persian kingdom. The King of Persia, Xerxes, was in search of another wife because he got mad at his wife Vashti. Listen, that’s another blog, sis! Xerxes wanted a young, virgin tenderoni and had his team to go gather up some women and bring them to his palace. They went through a rigorous beauty treatment and had to be presented in front of the king to be chosen as his new wife. Esther found favor through the whole process and was chosen by the king! So, you know when you are “chosen” it’s not just for you, right?

Xerxes had a “right hand man” named Haman. Haman had an encounter with Mordecai where He refused to bow down to Haman as it was against his culture. As a result, he influenced the king to sign an order to kill all of the Jews, not knowing that those were Esther’s people. Mordecai informed Esther and asked that she intervene. Doing so could cost her life, even though the king was her husband! Of course, she was afraid, but Uncle Mordecai had to remind her that it was not happenstance that she was in this particular space. Esther 4:13-14 The Good News Translation says “Don’t imagine that you are safer than any other Jew just because you are in the royal palace. If you keep quiet at a time like this, help will come from heaven to the Jews, and they will be saved, but you will die and your father’s family will come to an end. Yet who knows—maybe it was for a time like this that you were made queen!” In other words, “Don’t act brand new!”

Esther understood the assignment, so she had Uncle Mordecai to have the Jews to fast and pray along with her and her maidens. She also planned a banquet. You know what food does to a man’s heart, right? She received favor as she went before him, and Uncle Mordecai was promoted. Read the story to see what happened to Mr. Haman, but Mordecai was given the power to allow the Jews to organize self-defense. They were victorious in the fight, all because of proper positioning.

Esther was in her sweet spot. What is a sweet spot you may ask? According to Merriam Webster, “It is an ideal or most favorable location, level, area, or combination of factors for a particular activity or purpose.” In other words, it means being in the proper position for purpose to be fulfilled. Not only was she in her sweet spot, but she also stewarded that area well. That’s the key. What we do with what we have in that sweet spot is so pivotal and it can either cause all things to align or all things to fall apart.

This year has been full of transitions for me. Some have been easy, some difficult, some stressful. There were routes that I wouldn’t have exactly taken, but I am so thankful that God has allowed me to know that I was exactly where I needed to be or given me some insight into why He was leading me in different directions. Even our connections are meaningful. I have had to let go of some connections that were not conducive to my purpose. On the other hand, I have literally had to tell people ” I have no idea why you like me, but I am thankful!” He will allow us to have favor with others in order to take us to the places and spaces that we are needed. Now, did I always steward my positioning well? NOPE! We are transparent around here! I have been in some spaces that I knew were intentional, but I was like “Listen, I hate it here and it shows!”

One thing I can appreciate about Esther was her obedience. She clearly had doubt and fear, but she was obedient. That reminds me a little of myself. I can definitely be one to say “nah” about something. When I know that God said it, even when I am reluctant, complaining, and a little salty I try to be obedient and make it happen knowing that He will be with me. If it is truly from Him, it will look like He is a part of it. He will make sure that it is carried out according to His plan.

So, do you know where your “sweet spot” is? Honestly, it may be that space where you are most uncomfortable. How are you stewarding that space? Have you been avoiding an assignment that could be your “sweet spot” because you already know it will be uncomfortable? Listen, these are also questions for me, sis! Proper positioning and timing are key to our development. It equips us for future opportunities, prepares us for the full scope of our purpose, and we meet people along the way that we can impact and glean from. I would rather be uncomfortable and in the right place than to be comfortable and out of position. Truthfully, you’re not exactly comfortable. Your flesh may feel comfortable, but your spirit is doing cartwheels! Sis, I have had to come to terms with this revelation and it is very sobering. We have to remember God is intentional about His children.

Father, we thank you for your guidance. You promised to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathways. You said you would go before us and make the crooked paths straight. We thank you for being so kind and loving to us. Giving us grace even when we resist your perfect paths and plans. We thank you that all things work together for our good because we love you and are called to your purpose. The discomfort, pain, and fears that come with proper positioning are all for our good and for your glory. We thank you for redeeming the time, covering us as we go forth in obedience, and giving us strength when we feel weary from doing your will. We will steward our sweet spot well, we will do so with your confidence and excellence, and we will be victorious. Amen.

Hey sweet faces!!! This is the final blog post before the summer! How many of you know that the Bible isn’t just full of sweet words of encouragement? Listen, there is some savagery in the Bible! God gave me this topic to share a few months ago and I was like “Ummm nah, that’s harsh!” But since it’s the last one for the summer, I’m gonna just sit this right here, drop the mic, and keep it moving! Let’s go!

The scripture that God gave me was Matthew 7:6. The Good News Translation says “Do not give what is holy to dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs—they will only trample them underfoot.” I have always heard that we shouldn’t cast our pearls before swine, but I was just like a lot of us that know some of the scripture but not all of it. When I read it in it’s entirety, I was like “Ok Jesus!” It was really personal to me as this is something I have to remember. This was actually something that was prophesied to me a few years ago that I kinda understood, but this added more depth. But what does it mean and why are our pearls so sacred? Happy you asked!

I loooooove pearls, however none of the ones I own are authentic! 🤣 Pearls are a symbol of beauty and purity. They are rare, expensive, and actually are created by a living creature. Pearls are formed in oyster and mussel shells. It starts when an irritant gets inside of the shell, like a piece of sand for example. The mussell begins to coat it with a protectant called nacre thousands of times. This is a defense mechanism, but it allows the pearl to form. The pearl takes anywhere from 2 to 4 years to develop. Isn’t that amazing! I think that is a perfect picture of how sacred pearls are in relation to what God is trying to convey to us. First, it is formed by an irritant, which is something that is undesirable. Then it takes some time to develop. This is an example of our morals, values, convictions, and relationship with God. It is not an overnight process, and there are levels to it as we grow and learn. This process creates our moral compass.

Now, let’s talk about those dogs and pigs mentioned in the scripture. Dogs and pigs are seen as unclean and unruly animals. I don’t believe that you would place anything that you deem as valuable in a pen with dogs or pigs, right? This is when we have to clutch our pearls. We have to hold on to the things that God has told us, our personal convictions, and wisdom we have gained because everyone isn’t equipped to handle our “pearls”. We may be mocked, ridiculed, and singled out when we share those things with the wrong people. We have to learn the ministry of being quiet. The pearls we have gained are so precious, so we must treasure them in the event we encounter someone that will value our work, effort, and diligence to develop. There are people that will take care of the wisdom and love you share because they are aware of the sacrifices you made to get to this space. Following God can be difficult! We wanna do things our way, but this is the road less travelled.

The rewards will be worth it. This doesn’t mean that we cannot communicate with those that don’t agree with the way we choose to live, but it does mean that we have to use a filter as we speak. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to give them what they need without depleting ourselves of our valuables. As we grow and develop in God, we make decisions to follow Him despite our feelings and our flesh. This can cause a stir amongst those that knew us before this transformation. Remember that setting healthy boundaries is a MUST, not just for your healing and growth, but also for your salvation and walk with Christ.

Father, I pray that you would help us to clutch our pearls. Give us the discernment we need as we balance the sacred space of relationship with you and fellowship with your people. Let our lives be an example of balance that ultimately leads others to you. We ask that you continue to allow our pearls to grow and thrive as we gain new wisdom, insight, and revelation through our relationship with you. We thank you for your wisdom to know when to share and when to be silent as we communicate. In your son’s name we pray, AMEN! My sisters, have an AMAZING and safe summer and make sure you get my new devotional from Amazon called “A Beautiful Journey.” Love you all!!