Pick Your Place and Start Running

The evening news called it one of Broadway’s hottest performances, drawing in the President of the United States and cabinet members even, and it’s being hailed as a theatrical “game-changer”. “Hamilton” is a hip-hop, rapping musical about the life and times of founding father Alexander Hamilton. It took 35-year old playwright, Lin-Manuel Miranda, six years to produce the performance, including the music compositions, and taking on the title character.

pick a path, pick a dream, there's room at the tableLast night, I listened to the young producer share the pivotal moment to his current success. It was when he was accepted into a school for the gifted; he was a very bright child.

“Everyone was smarter than me. And I’m not blowin’ smoke. I was surrounded by genius, genius kids. What’s interesting about growing up in a culture like that is you go, ‘All right, I gotta figure out what my thing is. Because I’m not smarter than these kids. I’m not funnier than half of them, so I better figure out what it is I wanna do and work really hard at that.’ And because intellectually I’m treading water to be here… I picked a lane and I started running ahead of everybody else. That’s the honest answer. I was like, “All right, THIS.”

“This” was theater. He was in practically every school play from then on.

I silenced the television. That’s a powerful story. Letting those words ruminate in my mind, I picked up a book quoting Dr. Seuss’s “A Zoad In The Road”.

Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad 
Who came to two sides in the fork in the road?
He looked one way then the other way, too.
So the Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.
Well the Zoad scratched his head, his chin, and his pants,
And he said to himself, ‘Now, I’ll be taking a chance.
If I go to place one, that place may be hot.
So how will I know if I like it or not?
On the other hand though, I’ll feel such a fool,
If I go to place two and find it’s too cool.
In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.
So place one may be best and not place two.
On the other hand though, if place one is too high,
I might get a terrible earache and die.
On the other hand though, if place two is too low,
I might get some terrible pain in my toe.
So place one may be the best,’ and he started to go.
And he stopped and he said, ‘On the other hand though. . .
On the other hand, other hand, other hand though, and. . .
For thirty-six hours and one half that Zoad made starts and made stops
At the fork in the road, saying ‘No, don’t take a chance, you may not be right.’
Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright.
‘Play safe,’ cried the Zoad, ‘I’m no dunce.
I’ll simply start off to both places at once.’
And that’s how the Zoad who would not take a chance
Got no place at all with the split in his pants.

This poem represents the inability to commit to a solitary direction in life… and faith.

Maybe you’re at a fork in the road right now. Does it seem like everyone around you is smarter, richer, funnier, faster and more of everything that you are not? If your social media feed is anything like mine, it’s filled with dream chasers standing on the platform of their vision and sharing it all over the world.

Well, I’m encouraging you to pick a place. Choose a path that you can be good at. There’s room at the table for one more.

Are you a writer? What’s the one thing you can share with others from your own experience? Your story and perspective will come from the seasoning of life that is exclusive to you. No one else can come to the banquet with the kind of salt from your upbringing that you have.pick a place, dreamer, dream big, start walking, Godly wisdom, worldly wisdom, The Zoad, Dr. Seuss

Are you crafty? Your creative spirit can conceive and combine ideas that others cannot. You see the breakdown of steps on how to achieve a work of art. We need you at the table.

Are you all about the details? Surely your spreadsheets stand out amongst the crowd in color-coded charting and make a statement in the board room. Creative minds need your analytical brain to put these ideas on paper in a way the rest of us can understand it.

If you attempt to mix the world’s wisdom with Godly wisdom, well, this is when you end up going no place at all.

God has given you a direction and path that he wants you to follow. He may not have revealed each and every step to you at this very moment. And that’s okay. My advice is to just continue walking until He reveals the next one.

What does God’s path look like? It’s living a life that steps into faith when the details are fuzzy.

When you can’t see the end destination, and trust His lead into the next step, that is the surest way to reach your final destination.

The Rarest Thing In The World

Mark Twain quote, trishakeehn.com, live fearlessly, fear of life, fear of deathTo live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist. – Oscar Wilde

Take a deep breath. Feel the air fill your lungs, and hold on. Today is your day to live out what you’ve been thinking about. There is freedom moving forward. No one can stop you from starting over. Don’t think too fast for your feet that you become anxious for tomorrow. Just begin walking out today, and live it well, my friend.

Are You Ready For The Rain?

Don’t let the condemning voices convince you that you’ve blown it. The brokenness in your marriage isn’t too far for recovery. Those bills can get paid and your credit restored. Your heart can discover hope after a devastating divorce, a death or unplanned pregnancy.

When we make mistakes or get off course, it’s easy to get down on ourselves and live guilty or condemned. Setbacks can push our dreams down and make us feel like a failure, weak and lame.

Sometimes it wasn’t even your fault. Maybe because of someone else, you were left here a mess with addictions, bad habits and scars. Even well-meaning people can put you at a disadvantage and it’s tempting to blame their problems for holding you back.

But it really is a waste to spend your time making excuses and going through life nursing the wounds, because God has His hand out wanting to put you back in the game.

It’s time to get off the sidelines. God is in the restoration business. Take the hand you were dealt and work with it.

The place where you are in life doesn’t change the identity of whose you are. Life may have thrown you some curves but you are still a child of the King.

God knows it all. He wants to give you back your joy, abundant peace, and help you get some victory over this stuff. He still loves you and wants to be good to you and He’s never waiting to write you off when you stray.brokenhearted, healing, psalm 147, names the stars

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Psalm 147:3-6

You don’t have enough power to screw up God’s calling for your life. It is irrevocable. He doesn’t change His mind based on what you do.

We are the ones who decide that our weaknesses don’t deserve the royal crown. So we give up. Don’t let someone else’s judgment of your behaviors convince you to stay there. God wants to restore you back. But you have to get into agreement with Him on this.

Bring your humility with the desire to get back on track.

Mercy doesn’t make sense. We don’t deserve it but God gives it. So how long are you going to stay where you are? A fresh start is waiting for you. Let’s be done blaming others and move forward into a newfound freedom, the favor of God.

The Most High God breathed life into you and crowned your head in favor. He made His children kings and priests unto Him. Nothing that has happened to you will ever change your identity. No one can take it away.

let it rain, pour out your favor, You still have royal blood flowing through you.

You are extremely valuable to God and the King is looking for you today. You can run but He’s going to keep pursuing you. In the club. On the streets. While you’re at work. God will leave the rest of the flock to come find you. He wants to bless you. Are you ready to receive it?

Let it rain, Lord. Open the flood gates of heaven and pour out your favor upon us today.

Your Destiny Can’t Collect Dust

Even the pain works for your good

Every time God gives you a way out, you find a new way into a mess. Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from trying. No one has all the answers.
 
There’s nothing on your resume that should make God choose you, but He did.
 
Ignore the voice in your mind bringing up your flaws because no matter how many times you fail, no one can stop what God has your name on.
 
Your daddy owns the company. Nobody can apply for your position. You don’t have to be afraid of the competition. You can walk right in with the failures of your past and before you even speak, your Father in Heaven, the God of the universe says, “You’re Hired!”God's goodness, destiny, pain
 
Your destiny can’t collect dust. Even your pain will work for your good.
 
Not because you are good, but because God is good.
 
He is working behind the scenes right now. The heavens are shining up their edges because God knows you’re going to make it!
 
It’s time to let some things go. Where others are judging you, God justifies you. Don’t let their view of your circumstance keep you tied up.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison… (2 Corinthians 4:17).  Tell yourself what you’re facing today is just some light work. Let God take the heavy load by trusting when you pray that He’s got this one.

I’m praying in the power of Christ’s blood, that God’s power is working out the next phase in your life. May He restore in you the joy of your destiny… your salvation! In the end, you win!

God, finish what you started in us. Thank you for the pain, because only then did I realize how much you loved me. When others were throwing me away, you still loved me right where I was. Even when I was giving up on myself, You never did.

I declare nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. There’s nothing I can do that will make my God walk away and stop pursuing me. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. He loves me in my mess, even still!

God Will Always Provide

It just might look different than what we had in mind

God will provide, Philippians 4:19, trishakeehn.comFaith involves looking beyond what you can see or the limitations that you face.

Maybe you don’t have enough time in the day to do all you need to do. Or maybe you don’t have the resources to carry out what needs to be done. It could be that you are struggling to raise your kids alone. Or it could be that you have received a report from your doctor that is not good.

Maybe your bank account is low, and you are doing all you can to find a job… and yet, God is asking you to still honor Him with a portion of your money.

Whatever the case, faith acts on the truth that even though you don’t have enough, God has more than enough, and He has promised to supply all that you need.

Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.‪#‎KingdomWoman‬

Rock Rejection: 4 Ways to Process the Pain

rejection, progression, new direction, trishakeehn.comWe all face it at some point in our lives, whether it’s with our dreams, our job, our relationships, or even in ourselves. Rejection stirs up emotions of inadequacy. But I want you to know that feelings don’t change the quality of a God who designed you. Thoughts don’t alter the craftsmanship of character He created you to be.

Rejection is only negative if it stops you.

Process the rejection as progression in a new direction.

How can your deal with a letdown?

  • Don’t take it personally.
  • Expect rejection.
  • Expose yourself to more rejection. More opportunities for ‘no’ is another opportunity for yes.
  • Don’t overanalyze a ‘no’. Ask what you can do differently and move on.
Everything isn’t right for you, and you’re not right for everything. Reframe rejection by reminding yourself that this ‘no’ has delivered you one step closer in the direction of the destiny you are meant to have.

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:23 NLT

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESVrejection, confidence,

Do you know what God’s will is for you? It’s for you to glorify Him in all that we do, which includes how we think. So when you are tempted to feel less than desirable because rejection gave you the hand, remind yourself of the image of a great God you were created in and glorify Him for making you for something specific and specially tailored for you.

Let Jesus transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Rejection can rock your enthusiasm. So rock rejection with your confidence.

Be Fearless: Live Free From Feelings

fearless, no fear, pursuit, dreams, trishakeehn.comOne of the most fearless things you can do is to live free from your feelings. Keeping the peace regardless of your circumstance takes guts.

You might have a fear of failure and that’s why you won’t take the leap into something you’re passionate about.

Maybe it’s turmoil in a relationship or a setback in your finances, the trick of the enemy is to let it bother you. That’s how he deceives. He makes you believe you have to dwell on the hurt.

When you do the right thing but the wrong thing is happening… More than ever, protect your heart.

Draw a line in the sand and trust God regardless of your emotions.

Whatever you constantly think about is what you put on the throne. Stop thinking about what someone did or said to you. As long as you give them the focus, you’ll continue to live upset.

Take that circumstance off the throne and put God back on it.

God will make the wrongs right. Keep what God promised you in His Word close to your heart. Keep a heart of expectancy. Extinguish the sparks of negative thinking. Stay focused on your goals.

Here’s a tip to keeping your peace: Don’t ask for the details. That’s where fear gets a foothold.

Assume everyone loves you and live out of that whole, confident, secure place.