Welcome 30s: The Age of New Beginnings

This month I turned 30! I can't believe the years have gone by so fast! It seemed like just the other day I was 7. Well, maybe not, but the years have crept up on me. 12 years ago I graduated from high school, 8 years ago I graduated from college and now I am a working girl in the Big Apple. This is not where I thought I would be. I had my life planned out by the age of 13. It went like this:

1. I would attend FIT (like Lisa Turtle from Saved by the Bell) and major in Fashion Design. Instead I graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Apparel Design.
2. Then, I would meet my husband, who would major in finance, and start his own company. (Instead I dated a wannabe rapper for 7 years and it went no where)
3. By the age of 23 we would be married and living in a fabulous condo on the east coast with a second home in West Africa or Europe.
4. By the age of 30 I would be a stay at home mom with 5 or 6 children, 3 dogs, a mongoose and a farm out in the country. Oh and an Aston Martin, his and her black on black Range Rovers and a small yacht for vacations on the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

Well, needless to say, my life turned out differently. Maybe some of those plans would have happened, but God intervened. I believe if the plans I laid out happened, I would not be in Christ the way I am in Him now. The Lord saved me from a destructive path. There were times that I considered living with my then boyfriend, moving out to NYC or LA right after college but God closed every door. At the time, I didn't know God was preparing me to become the young lady that I am today. I know Jesus as my Lord, Savior, Best Friend and Brother.

He is showing me that He has bigger and better plans in store for me than I could ever imagine. Not material/earthy wealth or worldly success, but the things that are eternal and everlasting. Because all the worldly things shall pass away and things that I am growing spiritually are all for the glory of God. The beautiful thing is that I am seeing it. God is using me in my workplace, family, church and friendships to bring Him glory. He is pruning me to be the sister, friend, daughter, servant, intercessor, future wife and mother that He has created me to be.

I was talking to my sister about how significant the age of 30 is. Jesus started His full time Ministry at 30, Joseph became Governor over Egypt at 30 and David become King of Israel at the age of 30! On the Christian resources today website, it states that the meaning of 30 is "the marking of the right moment." So I know that God has a lot in store for me. Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. NLT

To all my brothers and sisters turning 30 this year or who are already in their 30s and feel like they have not accomplished the goals or plans they set out to complete by the age of 30; believe me the best has yet to come. God has everything planned out! Trust Him and live in His Will and you will see miraculous things happen. Remember to be obedient and He will lead you into your calling.

A Model "P 31": The Virgin Mary

My sister and I this past week were talking about Joseph the husband of the virgin Mary. We were reading Matthew 1: 18-20. which reads:

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. ²⁰ But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

After reading this passage I really thought about the part when it says Joseph was a "just man, and not wanting to make her a public example." Now back in those days if you where found committing adultery you would be condemned and stoned in public. Joseph had every right to publicly humiliate and express his disapproval of the woman that he was going to marry.

Because he was a "just man" he did not. Even though he was still going to do it behind close doors, he was not going to shame Mary. Is it only because he was "just" or was there something about Mary?

In scripture, Mary was described as being "highly favored....... blessed among women," by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:28. Why did God pick her above all the other women born in her time or before her? Why did God patiently wait for her to be born? Moreover, why did Joseph have respect for her, not to shame or ridicule her? I believe it is because Mary is a Model P31.

A Model p31 is Proverbs 31 better known as the Virtuous Woman/Wife. Starting at verse 10 it describes what type of characteristics in a woman that a man should be looking for. I am pretty sure God saw all these attributes in Mary and so did Joseph. Now we might in a later post go in depth about a virtuous woman but for now take the time to read the passage.

Mary must have had favor in the sight of both man and the Lord. She was a hard worker, humble, obedient, loving, carried herself well, modest, generous, kind, giving and a God fearing woman. Joseph saw all these things in Mary and the angel of the Lord reassured him of that. Mary is a great example of one of the many women in the Bible that we as young single women are able to look to as role models. Joseph is also a good example to young single men of how to be "just" and spot a model P31 when he sees one.

This really reminded me how it is important to look to the word of God to instruct you how to live your life justly and virtuously for Him. When you do this others will notice and God will be gloried in your life. You will also receive the many promises and blessing He has in store for you.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Finding Blessings in Disappointments

I received an e-mail two weeks ago from a former supervisor at an internship I worked last summer. She was the VP of wholesale and her whole department was laid off last September. It actually happened while she was on her honeymoon! To make it worse, she and the owner/designer were friends. But she took it all very well. She was not bitter and she never said anything bad about her former boss.
She continued to have an upbeat attitude even though she and her husband are currently unemployed. She told me in her e-mail that she was interning for a costume designer and for the first time she is enjoying what she is doing. She also said that she is making a lot of contacts and might be an apprentice to the designer.
I responded and told her that sometimes disappointments can be blessings in disguise. God revealed to me that he is always in control. And that every “no” you hear, every job lost, every relationship that goes wrong, or every opportunity that gets a way just means that God has something else or better in store.
The story of Joseph is a good example of someone who had so many disappointments in their life. God had revealed to him at a young age, what his destiny would be. The devil did not want Joseph to fulfill his destiny so he used Joseph’s brothers and Potiphar’s wife to stop it from happening. The beautiful thing is that God was with Joseph through it all and blessed him in those trying times. In the end, Joseph’s dream came true and he was second in command in Egypt and brought his family into the country to avoid the famine in the land.
Joseph said to the enemy in Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
So if you are facing life’s let downs, know that God is in control. Pray and ask the Lord for wisdom and understanding. Trust in His divine plan and serve the devil notice that you do not believe his lies. Let him know that you will endure the pain of rejection, loss and disappointments because your blessing is around the corner. So Praise the Lord because you are blessed and highly favored by the Most High God. You are a STORMRIDER!