Podcast: When Will You Stand?

It's been too long! 

Today is podcast day! 

We're talking about being courageous enough to stand in order to change destinies. 

Join us!

http://69.195.124.219/~vonaedey/podcast/when-will-you-stand

Podcast: The Fruit in your life

It's podcast time!

If there's one thing that I know for sure is that we're all waiting on something. Waiting to see the results of our hard work, our patience in that relationship pay off with a shiny rock, to receive the mommy of the year award because we have that perfectly mannered child. But what happens when we aren't seeing the fruit we've hoped for or the very thing that previously yielded great results, no longer brings us satisfaction? Join us today on the podcast!

Love you,

Vonae

Are you using your gifts?

What is it that you're gifted to do?

You know that one thing that you just seem to be good at?

That one or two things that people praise you for. That thing that you shrug off as if it were nothing because it simply comes naturally to you.

It's easy to hoard our gifts. To know that we're good at this, that, or the other and simply allow it to remain that way. 

Known to us.

Stuck in our mind.

Hanging out on a shelf for whenever we happen to get to it. 

If there's one thing I know for sure is that we weren't given gifts in this life for ourselves. God gifted them to us for the benefit of others.

To influence others, 
                     Inspire others, 
                                 Call up others, 
                                              Shift a mindset, 
                                                          Shake up a generation. A culture.  
                                                                            To radically shift the trajectory of someone's life.

So if we know our gifts were given to us to help others live a better life, why are we so reluctant to use them?

I stood in the hallways of my job today, greeting, talking and laughing with some great people spending their Sunday morning in the house of God. As we discussed things of many varieties, I was asked about my writing and if I had another book coming out. Well the short answer is yes. 

Yes, I have another book in the works. 

It has been in the works since last August. 

Last August when I published my first book . . .

Wait, that's been almost a year. 

Yes I said it, a full year. 

It certainly doesn't take me a year to write a book.

It's completely outlined with chapters, stories, examples, quotes. 

You know, everything  a good skeleton of a book needs.

Yep it's there. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Come to think of it, the book is actually called "Waiting, When Will it be my turn?"

And if you think I just did that on purpose, I did not. (Totally creepy)

Anywhoo, as I answered the question on if I had another book coming, I imagined just how many people's lives could be waiting for me to stop hoarding my gifts. For me to get over being too busy, too tired, too overly consumed with what I have going on to even entertain the thought of finishing said book. And as I contemplated those very thoughts, I realized the visible fruit that we see in our lives is directly linked to our obedience to His call. 

So what are your gifts? How are you using them? What have you been waiting to see flourish that has seemingly been laying dormant? When we move into the things that He has for us and intentionally decide to use our gifts to advance His Kingdom, wonderful things begin to happen!

Start using your gift today!

You'll be so blessed that you did.

Love you,

Vonae

Beautiful vs. Average

It's that time again! 

This week on the podcast we dive into what it means to be beautiful. 

Is beauty made up of height, 

weight, 

social status, 

or perfection? 

We believe that every woman should feel and know that she is beautiful!

 Join us over on the podcast!

Vonae Deyshawn

Join our Podcast!

We're so excited for our new adventure launching this Friday!! Join us for a podcast chalked full of inspiration, motivation and hope. As always, our desire is to help you grow and realize your calling. We hope you will join us over on our new site, www.vonaedeyshawn.com!

How do you see yourself?

Source

For we are God’s masterpiece, 

created to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Ephesians 2:10 –

I'm not one for compliments. 

Whenever one is directed my way, things tend to get rather awkward pretty fast. There's something about them that gets under my skin and makes me uncomfortable. 

For me, compliments are the equivalent of standing on a large stage with a bright spotlight aimed directly at my greatest flaw.

Horrifying.

I haven't quite grasped my extreme aversion to them.

Is it because they magnify certain traits?

Maybe.

Is it because I find it hard to internalize and/or accept them?

Quite possibly.

Ultimately, I think it comes down to the fact that others think we're a lot cooler than we actually are. Or put another way, they can see for us, what we cannot see for ourselves. 

As I had this very conversation with a dear friend, Liza, she decided to give me a little perspective. (More like a slap) Smiling, she proceeded to ask me what I thought was the most beautiful animal in the world. 

An otter I answered confidently.

That was until I saw the look on her face which was in total disagreement. Trying again, I offered up the beautiful and majestic horse, which pleased her a lot more than my original blunder. 

I'll never forget what she said next.

"And do you think for a second, that a horse in all it's beauty and grace is ashamed of how God made it? Why are you?"

Wow. There it was. That was enough to kick me in the butt for the next couple of months. No Liza. You are right. The horse is a beautiful animal that walks confidently in all its intricate glory and grace; never doubting its ability or stature.

Isn't it time we take a cue from the horse?

I believe the time has come when God is calling His women to start walking fully and confidently in all that He says we are and are called to be. More importantly, shouldn't we be able to see ourselves in the light that others esteem us in, rather than relegating ourselves to depths that make us more comfortable?

In Ephesians 2:10, we are reminded that we are God's masterpiece. His very own work of art. One that He is crafting, shaping and modeling into His own image. Placing a stamp that says "mine." He calls you, me, daughter, friend, chosen, loved, beautiful, redeemed, set free, called up, called out, wanted and so much more. He sees us for who we will be, not for who we are now. 

God made each of us special for this very time; this very moment. He made us to shine bright in our sphere of influence. So it's time for us to stop dimming our own light in order to keep the attention off of ourselves. If God has entrusted you with a platform, sphere of influence, or a word of encouragement, it is our responsibility to use it.

It is finally time for us to start seeing ourselves the way others see us.

The way God sees us.

1 Peter 2:9  – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

A Time for Everything . . .

"There’s an opportune time to do things, 

a right time for everything on the earth." -The MSG

Hello my beautiful friend! It is no secret that I took a break from writing. I've come to realize that there are seasons where I have a lot to say and seasons where I shouldn't say much at all. So much so, that I've come up with a personal statement that has sort of become a "mouth check," for me.

Are you wondering what it is? 

No?

Well, I'll tell you anyway.

"Speak life, or don't speak at all."

There it is.

Hence my extended time of silence. In my recent season of pregnancy with my sweet little baby Sophia, (Yes that is her giggling up above) I found it hard to navigate my word vomit and negative feelings. I spewed here, there, and unfortunately everywhere, until I decided that maybe I should just shut up for a while . . .

And shut up I did.

Doing business with God, I finally saw and embraced that my freedom isn't about me or my personal comfort. It's about the women I have been placed on this Earth to inspire, uplift and hopefully encourage on their journey. 

It's funny how God chooses to move us from one season to the next. How He takes us from a season in the wilderness (A much needed banishment sometimes) and then thrusts us back into our promised land. 

I had considered writing again, had even started a new project back in September, but for some reason, it just wasn't time.

Was it because I was crazy, angry, pregnant lady?

Maybe.

Was it because God knew I would spew words of wrath I could no longer take back once they were printed and bound?

Maybe.

Whatever the reason, I must admit in retrospect, I'm appreciative for the silence.

When the inkling came to write, (I'll call it an inkling, because it certainly wasn't a desire) God confirmed it three times in one day through three separate people. So here I sit, while my two year old and eleven week old sleep,

writing.

Trying the best I know how, to be obedient in the moments when God says, 

"It is time."

After all, delayed obedience is still disobedience. 

The best part is, I know that He wants to do the same for you. He wants to move you from a place of waiting and wondering, to a place of action. 

So I ask, what is He speaking to your heart?

Whispering, it's time.

Even more importantly, will you obey?

I hope so.

Every week, you will find an article here that I pray will be encouragement for you on your journey. Some will be excerpts from my most recent project, "More Than: Abandon Your Labels, Embrace Your Calling," while others will just be things I've learned or am currently learning. If you haven't jumped into the pages of that book, I pray that you will consider starting down the path of uncovering your purpose and stepping into your calling. 

Until next time, I love you.

Vonae Deyshawn