Lacking Nothing

Do you have something that you enjoy doing everyday of your life? For example, if you're working do you wake up on most mornings ready to go to work or do you dread having to get out of bed? Have you ever had to perform a task or function but felt as if you could've been more prepared? What about when someone gives you an assignment or duty to handle at the last minute and they assume you know exactly what needs to be done because of your background, experience or even worse...your title?

I think if we take the time to be honest with ourselves, there are many instances where we feel as if we just don't have it all together. We're either missing pieces of the puzzle or we're supposed to do something that really isn't in our job description. Perhaps we look around at our peers and how well they seem to be doing and wonder what's wrong with us, what we're doing here, if we made a wrong turn somewhere and/or if we even have what it takes [to be competitive].

I've been there. Sometimes I feel I don't have all the right stuff. I'm left wanting; lacking the necessities...

Thank You. Even if there were enough tongues and an infinite amount of time it'd not be enough to give you all the thanks and praise which you are due. During a time of reflection and gratefulness we embrace who you are and who you are calling us to be in our everyday lives. May we reach out and touch those who need it most, stepping out of our comfort zones and growing in the knowledge and understanding that we will be who we need to be at the appropriate time. Continue to grow us up and expand our territory for your glory. Help us to take solace in the fact that you will provide everything we need to do these good works. Amen.

Phew...on last week I came to a realization that I have been in school a...very...long...time.

Approximately 20 years give or take. That's 240 months, 1,043 weeks, or 7,305 days. Granted this is 20 academic years not calendar years so the numbers are a bit of a stretch; get the picture?!

Still...that's a long time to be doing anything. As I sit here and reminisce on the time that has passed I recall many highs and lows, ups and downs. There were times when I was the best and times when you wouldn't be able to recognize who I was as a student; wasn't myself.

One thing that always seemed to stand out (more so as I got older) was that I was always lacking something compared to my peers. In elementary school I was one of the last kids picked to be on a team (not that I wasn't good, but just because that's how the chips fell). In middle school I wasn't as cool as everyone else (as in not being a part of the "cool kids" #innerCircle) and so I often was the individual who "fell between cliques", associating with anyone/everyone who would talk to me. When I was in high school it was a continuation of what happened in middle school as we all began to grow into our own. 

From an academic standpoint I had always done well until I got into high school. Some recent changes had occurred that forced me to learn how to really study. I began to feel at times that I wasn't as "good" as my peers with this whole academic thing. What I didn't realize is that things had been easy for me prior to this because of the circumstances and that I was being forced to learn how to be successful "on my own".


I felt like I was lacking something...even today as a candidate for a Master's degree I at times feel that I'm lacking something. I'm not cut out for this. They're better than me. I don't have what it takes. They have all the resources they need.

I've always understood the need to learn from others as well as my teachers, even if my actions didn't show it. At times I'd prefer to be too stubborn to ask for help because I simply didn't know how. Even if I was given all the notes and resources I still would need guidance to understand what it was that I was learning. I didn't learn like everyone else and that in and of itself was a struggle because I was different.

#uTurn
On the flip side there is an area where I will not lack because everything I need will be provided. I've learned to not focus so much on the intangibles such as my intellectual ability and focus on that which is everlasting; specifically the ability to be involved in ministry by reaching the lives of others.

Athletes always talk about bringing their A-Game. I thought I knew what my A-game looked like.

When it comes to this walk of faith, more is constantly being asked of me (and all believers). I'm required to do a lot (more) because I've been entrusted with a lot (more) [Luke 12:47-48].

This leads to a question I should've asked when it came to my academic woes:

"What am I missing?!?!?!"

I did some digging and this is what I've found. You should check and see if you have these as well.

• Fear (Psalm 34:8-10)
• Grace (Ephesians 2:8-10)
• Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Work Ethic (Colossians 3:23-24)

There will be days when you feel that you're just not enough..."keep on and keepin' on" #persevere.

Why?

The quick skinny:

• Sometimes I feel like I'm just not enough...and I know you do too

What does this mean for me? #theReader 
This means that you are enough and that you can get access to all the resources necessary if you do it correctly. A life in Jesus Christ helps you to understand that not all things matter as much as they used to; however, there are some things which will always matter and because of that you'll never be without [what's needed to do these things].

For further insight: Read-Now What?, Perseverance, How do I know it will work out?

This is F.U.N. (For Ur Needs)  Use your KEYS

• Know that if something is meant for you to do, it will get done by you
• Expect to have troubles and hard times, but also to grow from them
• Your approach can cause you to miss out on the solution; change things up
• Stay committed and open to new ideas/ways of achieving the end goal 

Challenge

• Find out what your A-game looks like

Bob Ya’ Head

Walkin Out (Benjah)