My aunt often tells people she’s the reason I’m okay with public speaking. She would often babysit me and it was not unusual for her to place a ‘microphone’ (a comb or brush) in my hand and encourage me to sing. The Queen of Soul was in her heyday back then, so one of my ‘go to’ songs was “Natural Woman”. What, at 5 or younger, I was supposed to know about what someone else did that made Aretha Franklin declare his love or affirmation gave her the validation she needed and brought “peace of mind” is a mystery but if you gave me a ‘microphone’ I had no problem belting out the song. Fast forward 40 plus years. I now sing for entirely different reasons (and I’m CLEAR, I am no Aretha Franklin). Do I have ‘peace of mind’? Yes, but because my mind is stabilized by knowing who controls everything. Do I feel like a ‘natural woman’? Yes, but because as I said previously, I finally like the woman in the mirror. Where does your affirmation come from? If its from the acknowledgement of others, what do you do when no one sees how hard you’re working? If its internal but based on your accomplishments, what do you do when you fail? Where does your affirmation to be YOU come from? I know where mine originates. I can be confident in my value now and in my having a future because both were already promised to me (Jer. 29:11) Because of my originator, I don’t have to copy anyone else, I’m good with naturally being me because He created me and who am I to argue with the Master: Artist/Craftsman/Potter and Designer (Ps. 139: 13 – 15)? What about you,. . .naturally. Rev. Antoinette
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My aunt often tells people she’s the reason I’m okay with public speaking. She would often babysit me and it was not unusual for her to place a ‘microphone’ (a comb or brush) in my hand and encourage me to sing. The Queen of Soul was in her heyday back then, so one of my ‘go to’ songs was “Natural Woman”. What, at 5 or younger, I was supposed to know about what someone else did that made Aretha Franklin declare his love or affirmation gave her the validation she needed and brought “peace of mind” is a mystery but if you gave me a ‘microphone’ I had no problem belting out the song.
Fast forward 40 plus years. I now sing for entirely different reasons (and I’m CLEAR, I am no Aretha Franklin). Do I have ‘peace of mind’? Yes, but because my mind is stabilized by knowing who controls everything. Do I feel like a ‘natural woman’? Yes, but because as I said previously, I finally like the woman in the mirror. Where does your affirmation come from? If its from the acknowledgement of others, what do you do when no one sees how hard you’re working? If its internal but based on your accomplishments, what do you do when you fail? Where does your affirmation to be YOU come from? I know where mine originates. I can be confident in my value now and in my having a future because both were already promised to me (Jer. 29:11) Because of my originator, I don’t have to copy anyone else, I’m good with naturally being me because He created me and who am I to argue with the Master: Artist/Craftsman/Potter and Designer (Ps. 139: 13 – 15)? What about you,. . .naturally. Rev. Antoinette
A few weeks ago, I wrote about exhaling or letting go. This week, I want to focus on what to inhale. There are so many pollutants around us (and I’m not talking about carbon emissions or cigarette smoke); I’m talking about those things that pollute or contaminate our spirit woman. What can contaminate us? Hate (especially the hate displayed this weekend in Charlottesville, VA), anger, rage, lawlessness, lust, pride, jealousy, bitterness and greed. Every one of them attaches itself to us and like a leech sips away at those things that would help us thrive, succeed and be happy. If you’re like me, every now and then you need a little reassurance because it seems as though the contaminates are winning. When I feel that way, I remind myself all of this is temporary so resist but inhale. I can hear you asking, what can we do; where do we go to inhale beneficial things? May I suggest you turn to the ultimate source of life, health, peace and joy. My source sees all, every tear you shed; every fear you’ve had and every pit that was supposed to destroy you. Inhale His love; His peace; His joy; His Word and His Presence (Philippians 4:7; Psalm 29:11 and Psalm 37:37). The more of Him we inhale, the less toxins remain in our system. Take a moment and inhale; you can never release the pollutants without inhaling the pure. Rev. Antoinette |
AuthorRev. Antoinette Gatewood-Sykes, Inspirational Speaker Archives
May 2019
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