Delighted Soul - 2019 - September & October

September & October 2019

DELIGHTED SOUL Confidence

Letter from the Editor

Some may think that as Christians, we can’t have confidence. We go with the flow, we don’t put ourselves above others, we constantly make sacrifices - and while this is all true, we still have to maintain confidence. The biggest question is where do we put that confidence - in God and God alone. We accompish nothing on our own, and everything through God’s perfect plan and provision. Confidence in God looks like many things, but at it’s core, its trusting the gifts that He’s giving you, the calling He has on your life, and all of the things He’s able to do in our lives that are exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think. This issue has so many gems for you as you walk through your career, ministry, relationships, and other areas of your life. Enjoy!

Jasmine Powell

Table of Contents

3 Go Into All the World and 4 Preach the Good News A magazine for young Confidence Is...

5 women in pursuit of Michelle’s Jewels 8 deeper relationship Walking in Confidence TIPS FROM AMANDA SARGENT

KAYLA ROGER’S EXPERIENCE IDEAS BY KRYSTAL HAWKINS

WISDOM FROM MICHELLE POWELL

with Jesus.

Walking in Confidence Let’s learn about confidence from Public Speaker and DeSoto ISD School Board Member (and former cheerleader and homecoming pageant queen) Amanda Sargent (@SargentSpeaks).

How can a person develop confidence?

Confidence is only developed by embracing who you are and what only you can bring to the table. It may sound too simple or cliche, but it’s the bare bones of the matter. We live in a society whose marketplace thrives off of people purchasing physically what they lack emotionally. While I’m not preaching against buying what you want, I think it’s of utmost importance to discover those things of intrinsic value. Growing up as a dark-skinned black girl, there were few phenotypical representations of me. Sure, you had Pam from Martin and Dijonay from The Proud Family, but neither were celebrated like their counterparts. I am truly thankful for growing up in a family that celebrated me and encouraged me to be all of me. I was more than my physical appearance, more than my academic achievements, more than my singing voice -- I was just more. I discovered the reservoir that I am and I became confident that there was more where that came from. The concept of confidence is indeed a personal journey that you must dedicate yourself to developing!

How do you maintain your confidence through challenges?

Confidence is bred by self-awareness and gratitude and that is God-inspired. Otherwise, you’ll fold under pressure. One of the ways that I maintain my confidence is journaling. Journaling has proven to be a great way for me to take inventory of how I’m thinking, feeling, and experiencing life. In these pages, I am able to express myself, but I can also see my challenges from a different perspective. To be transparent, as a brilliant career woman, there are barriers in the workplace. There are glass ceilings and floors. There are limited thoughts and misplaced thank you’s and flat out stolen ideas. Regardless of how the world treats me, my credibility and talents were pre-established by God Almighty. In Jeremiah 1:5, He says, I set you a part before you were born and appointed you. This is why it’s important to take inventory of how you feel and tend to those feelings, but remember what God says about you. I have confidence in knowing that He made me like this and what I am experiencing will not keep me from what He has called me to do in the earth. This is the infancy of faith. It’s not to detract from what you see and how you feel, but it is to reaffirm the confidence that God is using this too. He is using these challenges to get me to what He promised.

When do you feel the most confident?

I feel the most confident when I sit down long enough and discover I’m still breathing. I know that sounds weird but I’m of the volition that if I’m still living then I have something to do. There are so many reasons to check out of life and not try anymore. However, if you’re still here, you have an assignment and you are purposed. Recently, I was on a cruise and I saw Hurricane Dorian on the water. It was a surreal moment.

However, I noticed that the sun was up and it set and it rose again the next day. It was something so simple, but the fact that the sun is still purposed to rise in spite of the storms, rain, depleting ozone layer -- the sun is confident in its shine, its light, its warmth. God created the sun just like He created us. We have to remain confident to be who we are and be grateful that we are a part of something bigger. I encourage you to take time away from the busyness of life and observe nature. If the birds are provided for, why doubt God will provide for us?

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Go into All the World and Preach the Good News Many people are intimidated by the thought of traveling out of the country for missions, while others look forward to regular or extended trips. One thing is for sure, sharing the Gospel, locally or afar, takes confidence, and is well worth your time. Here’s Kayla Rogers’ (@_kayla_denise) experience.

In March 2019, I sent in my application to be a part of The Impact Movement's mission trip to South Africa. (The Impact Movement equips black students to become disciples of Jesus Christ who integrate their faith into every aspect of life). I had been wanting to go, and I felt like the summer right after graduation would be perfect! I got accepted in April and spent about two months raising $4,395 for the trip. Of course, God was an amazing provider and I was able to raise all my support on time. There were 19 of us on the team, mostly college students, a few graduates, ministry staff, and one 12-year-old. Just before our trip we met in Atlanta for a few days for a briefing, where we were trained for our two and a half weeks in South Africa.

I was very excited for the trip, but it didn't really feel real that I was going across the Atlantic Ocean to another the continent! I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I hoped that my life would change and that we would be able to touch the lives of those we met there. The theme of our trip was "Love God. Love People." based off of Mark 12:30-31.

We landed in Johannesburg, South Africa on the evening of July 17th. It's winter in South Africa, so it was a little chilly, but got a lot colder that night. We stayed in Pretoria, South Africa, which is about an hour north of Johannesburg. We spent the first weekend there seeing the area, learning about the history and culture of South Africa, getting settled in, bonding with one another, and preparing for the following week with the children.

On Monday July 22, our group split up into small teams at five different primary schools in Mamelodi, a township northeast of Pretoria. I was at a primary school called Sediba Sa Thuto with my team leader Bri, and another team member named Ke'Diara. The time we spent with the students was amazing. We used Vacation Bible School activities to teach them different lessons about Jesus and the Bible. Each day we got to sing with them, play games, dance, learn, and share the Gospel. The students ranged from about ages 4 to 12. They were extremely bright, some of them knowing about six different languages. Everything we taught them, they remembered almost immediately. In fact, those who were there when Impact came last year still remembered songs they learned like "My God is Big".

We had about 30 kids come join us after school each day. On the third day, we shared the Gospel with them for the second time in a series of steps using pictures and colors: “God loves you” = red heart, “Sin makes God sad” = blue sad face, “Jesus died on the cross for our sins” = gold cross, “Jesus cleans us” = white drops of water, “We open our hearts and accept Jesus” = purple gift box, and “Now it's time to grow” = green plant.

We explained to them that when you accept Jesus into your heart, He now lives inside you and you get to spend forever with Him. Over 30 children accepted Jesus into their hearts. It was amazing to see that they received the Gospel so well and were able to understand it, even with some of them not knowing English that well. Before we left, we also created books and bracelets with those colors representing the Gospel, so that they'd always remember it. In the books, we wrote the Gospel in English, and two of their languages so they could read it and share it with their friends or family. The excitement they had when we taught them lessons and simply played with them made my heart so happy. It was amazing being able to teach them, but I was also blessed by the love, joy, and hospitality they showed towards us, whether they didn't give up trying to explain something even though we didn't understand them, or letting us play in their soccer game even though they were 10 times better than us. They were so sweet to us and I will never forget their smiling faces.

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Another thing we experienced during those five days in Mamelodi was doing home-visits. A few days out of the week, we had the opportunity to visit some of the children's homes to see where they lived and meet their parent or guardian. These visits put a lot of things into perspective because we were able to see the condition in which some of them live and the daily struggles they have to go through. Some lived in shacks, some were living off of gambling, and some had other children at home who didn't have enough to eat. It was saddening, but encouraging to know that they were still being taken care of by God, and that He would never leave nor forsake them. Even with some of the children having rough living conditions, you couldn't tell by their faces because they had so much joy. It just made me realize that we are so privileged in the United Sates and despite having all we have, we still find reasons to complain. I remember leaving the children on that Friday with such a heavy heart because I didn't know what the future held for them, but I had to realize that God is everywhere at all times, and He will be with them always.

The following week, we spent time on two college campuses, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and University of Pretoria (TUKS). TUT felt like an HBCU because it was only black students there, and TUKS felt like other universities -- it was about half black, and the other half of the students were white, Asian, and “Coloured”. At these schools, we split up into groups of two to share the Gospel with a booklet called The Four Spiritual Laws. I really enjoyed our time on campus because I felt at home talking to other black young adults about our faith. I also feel like as a team, we reached a new level of boldness many of us hadn't reached before.

God was so intentional about who He led us to and when He led us to them. My partner and I talked to about 10 students during the week -- three of them accepted Christ, many of them received clarity about having a relationship with Jesus, and all of them were very open to talking with us. I've kept in contact with a few of them and it was just awesome to be used by God in such a way. God sent us 16 hours across the ocean to talk to just a few people, and it changed lives.

One of the best parts of the trip was being with my team every day. We laughed hysterically together, cried together, prayed together, worshiped together and more. We all struggled with some things in one way or another during the trip, and one thing was for sure: we were always there for one another, and still are today!

Overall, I feel so blessed that God sent me to South Africa. It was an experience that I will never forget, and I pray that I will be back soon.

Confidence Is...

Ideas from Krystal Hawkins (@kryslejoye)

IMPOSTER SYNDROME is real y'all.

God provides us all with a purpose, natural born talents, skills and capabilities, yet we still find ways to question it all. Because we doubt our confidence, it leaves us questioning His power, His devine reasoning. And that’s a no go, sis. We gotta get our confidence in check, real quick. And in order to do that, we seek out His Word. Periodt.

Joshua 1:9 says: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid.

For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Read it again.

God’s Word says, “...wherever you go.” So we can expect God to walk us through all the highs and the lows of life. During our greatest accomplishments and when we feel like imposters.

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He’s there through our joyful moments and through really dark places where we sometimes end up – even when we feel too ashamed to confess them openly.

So every day as we learn to restore our unwavering faith, let’s also give ourselves the space to live unapologetically. Let’s do our best to live without fear knowing that God is always with us, and He is 100% in control.

Ladies, it is time for us to collectively adjust how we think, speak and move in confidence! _______________________________________

THINK OF MINDFULNESS The moment you wake up, give yourself at least 3-5 minutes to practice your breathing. Make sure you’re fully awake so breathing doesn’t turn into dozing off (I’m guilty of this). Then ground yourself in the room and focus solely on your inhale and exhale. If you find yourself thinking of other things, refocus and breathe. That’s it!

This mindfulness activity can help center thoughts and flex mental muscles. It creates a quiet space for your mind before the buzz of the day, and with less distraction in the morning, you’ll have more reason to think confidently for the rest of the day.

You can also enhance mindfulness in your personal space by adding light and color to the room. Before you practice your breathing, open up the window shades and let sunlight peep in. If you prefer adding color, consider Behr Paint’s mindfulness themed color of the year, Back To Nature, a soft green hue that compliments natural sunlight and enhances tranquil vibes. Here are a few decor samples to spark inspiration:

SPEAK INTO EXISTENCE Words of affirmation can be helpful to growing confidence. I’ve toughed out many days at a time, weary of imposter syndrome and doubting my capabilities. A wise therapist once told me to start using “I Am ___” phrases to speak confidence over my life. Here are a few examples to get you started: I am worth the time.

I am worth the healing.

I am grateful.

I am more than a conqueror.

I am courageous.

I am light.

I am confident.

Whenever you feel exhausted, knocked down or just undervalued, recite these statements aloud to yourself. Speak them into existence and watch how they manifest in you.

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MOVE IN CONFIDENCE Being young and vibrant with dreams can sometimes cause us to question who we are, and whether we are capable of actually succeeding. To help overcome such worry, start writing easy, actionable goals for yourself.

Write down at least 3-5 weekly goals you can accomplish and structure your ambition into reality. These goals can be categorized as professional and/or personal.

For example: With God's help, I am confident in completing the following goals by the end of the week:

1. Read a 3-day devotional.

2. Apply to a job I’m passionate about.

3. Practice one vocal technique.

4. Watch Season 6 of Glee.

As you work to complete your goals, evolve them over time. Give yourself reasonable deadlines, maybe add an extension once in a while. Remember: the ultimate goal is to create action items at your pace, mark items off the list and create barriers that prevent doubt from seeping in!

“Write it down on real paper with a real pencil. And watch (it) get real.”

–Erykah Badu

Sources

5 Boss Habits 6 Secrets to Success The Science of Shouldology 2020 Color Trends

This Issue’s Scripture This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

- 1 John 5:14 7

Michelle's Jewels Peculiar People - Christian sect, signifying their refusal to conform to any rule of conduct that is contrary to the letter or spirit of the Bible.

Such confidence we have through Christ before God.

2 Corinthians 3:4

The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Deuteronomy 28:13

Is it okay to have confidence? Yes, it is absolutely okay to have confidence, and you should have confidence, but being confident is not always easy. God asks us to have great confidence in Christ Jesus. When we have a confidence that is in God, it is distinguishable to us, yet others may think you are arrogant. They do not realize that as a believer in Christ, God gives you power to do what is necessary to glorify Him.

You have a confident and courageous air about yourself. Not in pride or vanity, but more of a peculiar sense. Especially when the Bible says Christians are a peculiar people. You can absolutely be confident, believe in yourself, and have high self esteem. The Bible says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are joint heir with Jesus Christ, and that makes you royalty. Therefore do not walk around with your head hanging down. Lift up your head, square your shoulders, and let others see your eyes. You do not have to feel sorry for yourself or have low self esteem. You must continually trust in the Lord. You can always be confident in Christ.

According to your faith, be confident in God through Christ, daily. Be confident God will lead you in the right direction. Be confident that when you repent to God, you are forgiven. Be confident that God will help you to make the right decisions. Be confident when you tithe, you will have more than enough left over to live on. Be confident that God will help you to be a good steward over your finances, if you ask Him. Be confident that God will supply your need. Be confident that God will protect you. Be confident in your Bible Study and meditation time, that God will show you Himself. Be confident in your education, that God will bring things to your remembrance. Be confident on your job and that you can do your work in excellence. Be confident and wait patiently for God to bless you with a God-fearing husband. Be confident when you gather with family members, friends, and strangers to not be ashamed of your Christianity. Be confident and do not deter from your faith in Jesus Christ.

Do you want to share feedback or see a specific topic covered in the future? Let me know! jas@delightedsoulmag.com

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