TRANSITION

2021 will be a year of great transition

We will move from one state of being to the next. 

You will see great and dynamic movement in government 

You will see great and dynamic movement in the church.

Transitions in and transitions out.

One minute we were heading in one direction the next minute we were not.

Transition the process or period of changing from one state or condition to another.

We have already moved from one state of living in 2020

We will now enter into a new state of existence in 2021

Your body will transition into total health existence

Your mind will transition into a growth mindset existence 

Your money will transition into a wealthy existence 

Your spirit will transition into all things are possible existence.

Your businesses will transition into fortune 500 existence 

Your ministry & the church will transition into 

glory realm existence! 

What will it take to transition?

It will take you changing your perspective 

A friend of mine told me there is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror.

It's because whats ahead is so much greater than what's behind you. 

We have to move from looking at how

2020 may have taken you by surprise and now see that 2021 can be taken by force. 

There is no limit to what you can see in front of you.

Change your perspective so you can transition your world into a new level of existence.

2021 is a year of great transition!

EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED!

Have you ever had something to say, but you just can't put all the words together and say it? Well, I've been experiencing this on the inside since March. I've shared portions with others, but I now have the fullness of it here. I truly know and believe it is a word for the times.

Nothing is the same.
Everything has changed, including you!
Every time you try to look back and do something familiar you experience resistance.
Resistance happens when you try to push through to another level and hit what looks like a ceiling.
But the resistance/ceiling is not always bad thing.
If you are into market structure you know when trading price can get to a point where it has to make a decision.
The price of the trade can either retreat back to its usual level or breakthrough to a new level and price point.
Once it makes the decision to go forward the resistance or ceiling is no longer against it, but it now becomes the floor or support to uphold it to the next level.
We are all at a point of decision in our lives.
We must decide whose report we will believe.
We must decide who we will receive and even be.
The resistance of these times is honestly becoming the support that will push you and me into our next level of living and being.
So stop trying to go back.
Look forward and press into the new.
Nothing is the same.
Everything has absolutely changed - Even you!

Isaiah 43:18-19 - Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

What Are You Saying?

It's been a while! I know a lot has happened since we last spoke. Are you guys OK? Even if the answer is no, I am hoping that by the time you are finish reading this blog, you will feel a sense of change, relief and power over your circumstances.

Have you ever heard the saying, "speak now or forever hold your peace?" Or how about "keep quiet for peace sake." These statements sound good, but in actuality they were not good and create a sense of fear, oppression and insecurity when it comes to using your voice to express yourself.

Did you know that humans are the only creation on the planet that have language. No other living thing on this planet has language. It is language that turned into books, that turned into drawings that turned into speech that turned into you.

You see God in the beginning said something. Let’s look at what he said here: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:1‭-‬3 KJV

I find it so interesting that the bible opens up with God using his voice to speak. At a time when darkness was over the earth and things looked really bleak, God said something. I'm here to tell you that he is still saying something and he is fully expecting for you to do the same. God gave you words and its time to use them. Why? Because if you are not saying something you are not creating anything. My words, your words are here yes for conversation, but more importantly our words are here to create!

During slavery, black people were not allowed to read. They were not allowed to learn how to access their voice, because the minute they could, they would see that the Bible that slave masters tried to use to oppress them would actually become the words they used to actually free them.

A good friend of mine spoke with me about the power of voting and said something that really stuck out. She said, if you don't vote your silence is actually saying something. That is so true! Anyone's failure to use their voice is actually an admission or acceptance that nothing will change. But that's not you or me.

Your words have power (Proverbs 18:21). Your words create (Genesis 1:3). Your words bring change (Mark 11:23). Don't let anything or anyone silence you in this season. Open your mouth wide and see the endless possibilities available to you through your voice.

You've got something to say. So what are you saying?

YOU'RE BIGGER!

I love this scripture in I John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  

l believe God is always asking us to choose our position over our condition. He wants us to know that he created us from a high place and we were never made to come down.

I am not speaking of titles, degrees or rankings. I am speaking of your divine placement in the realm where all authority and power resides. This is from the position of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Psalms 103:19 KJV

Everything about mankind was designed to be greater, bigger, and ruler over all. The only thing that will change these mandates is you.  If you think you can, you will.  If you think you can't you won't.

Listen the world will never affirm what God is saying. You have to affirm what God is saying so your world can change.  When you begin to declare that you were made in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26) you will find yourself creating just like Him. When you begin to agree that you can do all things through him (Philippians 4:13) you will find yourself doing the impossible consistently. 

This year, I find myself focused more on my purpose. The more I focus I can see that my purpose is not defined by what I do. My purpose is defined by who I AM! And I am of God therefore greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).

Please take some time out of each day and let the scriptures I've listed in this blog speak to you. Let them speak to the circumstances around you. Let them tell you who you are. 

I am praying for you and our nation as we all face the impossible together. And I know we can do it, because we are truly bigger.

May God continue to bless and keep us all!❤

Take Your Place

My youngest child (pictured above) recently started kindergarten. I'm overjoyed (no more childcare) and emotional all at the same time.  Well, he came home with his 1st homework assignment and included was a list of sight words. I was surprised to see that many of the words dealt with position and being.

As I helped my son recite words like "I am" and "I can," I couldn't help but think that even at a young age we were all called to identify with who we are, what we can do and where we should be. 

But what about when we are older? What have we done with our foundational statements of being?

It says in Matthew 5:14 -  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Unfortunately, many of us are trying to hide. We want to escape the pressures of work and colleague problems. We want to run from greater roles and responsibilities both at home, work and at church. We want to shy away from the very purpose and plan God has for our life simply because of comfort.

I believe God through Jesus is restoring new sight words to us, and in them are new plans to position us for what he has designed us to be.  

Place can be referred to as location or position. It can also be referred to as an assignment. No matter where you are, you have a place. Your 1st place though starts with Christ.

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6

God wants you to shine! He wants you to take your place on the hill, in the city and wherever else he is positioning you as a light.

A good friend of mine (JM) gave me a new declaration and I want to share it with you. Declare: "I am my calling and God I trust you to bring it to pass."

You have only 3 months remaining to the year.  What are you planning to do before the new year begins. Are you going to prepare to take your place?

Love you all! Thank you for reading and sharing this blog!💗

Who Are You?

Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, Who do men say that I am? Mark 8:27 NKJV

Who am I? In essence this is what Jesus was asking. The savior of the world wanted to know who he was. More importantly he wanted to know who people said he was to them.

I'm sure you're probably asking why would Jesus want to know what people thought of him. It's because Jesus' entire purpose of being was to serve others. He was not here for himself. He was strictly here for others. 

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10 KJV

You see Jesus knew his purpose. He knew what he was born for. He knew what he was called to do.

What about you? What were you born for? Why are you here? What are people saying about you? Is your life a reflection of service or is it a reflection of being served.

When I made my career change into education, I knew it was an act of service. For one I have my own school of 4 children at home and two there is no amount of compensation that can equate to the time you put in to help children. So it wasn't about me. I knew it was for others. My purpose then and now 12 years later is still the same - to help young people discover their purpose too.

Have you ever thought about who is missing out on your purpose? What if there were hundreds, millions of people who need your creativity, expertise and abilities? What if there was one who needed you to be uniquely you? 

I had an amazing experience at church recently. I got baptized (pictured above)! It was so wonderful especially, because as I got out of the water I could see so many people cheering, smiling and just celebrating my experience. It made the day all the more memorable and rewarding.

So, it's true that you are who you are. But who you are to others makes you YOU! 

My prayer is that God will tell every person reading this blog who you are in Him. And that others will confirm it in the days ahead.

As always thank you for reading and sharing.💗

ACCESS GRANTED

“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?”
Isaiah 43:18‭-‬19 AMP

New Year, new things, new experiences, new perspective, new life. That sounds real good. But how?

How do we take our lives to the next level? How do we move out of comfort zones into the unknown? How do we live our best lives when the life we have is not at it's best?  I believe the answer to these questions is in the scripture above. We have to forget the former and focus on the new.

Leaders especially know how much we are constantly pushed to think it forward. We hear things like “vision casting” & “growth mindset” that we wonder how to go from here to there when no one following wants to go. Or when leaders can't see the way.

I believe access is only granted to the one who will focus on the new. It's as if you can't see the road ahead if you keep looking through your rear view mirror. Access starts with your heart. What are you expecting? What are you willing to do different? Who are you willing to become?

There is another scripture in the bible that reads: “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wine skins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wine skins” Mark 2:22 NLT.  Would you put new clothes on top of your dirty clothes? No, you would 1st get rid of the dirty ones. So why do you want a new life in addition to your old?

The definition of insanity is doing the same old thing and expecting something different.  Nothing new will ever come if you are still operating as old. If you want to take your company, business, family, and life forward, you must be willing to do something new.

I have had the privilege of working with some amazing leaders. I've also attended numerous conferences/trainings ranging from marriage to finance to leadership. In all my exposure none of the information obtained would make any difference if I was not willing to do something new with what I learned.

Folks you have access to the same promises God promised Jesus. If he is willing to do it for Jesus, He is also willing to do it for you! Don't allow old thinking, old habits, old experiences and what you feel is old age to keep you from the infinite possibilities of creating something new.  Listen many of societies “Greats” started in what people define as late (aka after 40). But what is your age compared to eternity? You got forever on the line, so you might as well start now!

This year I have personally decided that I have total access to everything I desire to accomplish in my life. I am not asking for anyone's permission to be the creation I was designed to be. Nor am I making any more excuses for any limitations I have set in my own heart and mind. Instead I am pursuing my God ordained right to live my best life to the full glory & honor of his name.

This is a season to take your eyes off of the old.  Total Access has been granted! You are free to live and become something new!

I am also excited to announce the completion of my 1st book! Whoop! Whoop! Releasing this year! Connect with me: (https://mailchi.mp/84abada9dff7/ethelisgrace) and stay tuned for release dates and more!

Happy New Year with love!  Make it your best ever!

His Voice | My Life | Our Ministry
www.ethelisgrace.com
@ethelisgrace - Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Can You See?

And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:  For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. Genesis 13:14‭-‬15 KJV

Have you ever been anywhere you needed to leave? Or started business ventures that needed to cease?

What about failures? Have things always worked for you? Has every deal turned gold? Or were there a few that never made it to the table?

Like Abram, leaders have to know “when to hold ‘em & when to fold ‘em”. We have to know when to leave situations that no longer measure up to the leadership levels we have established for ourselves or the people we lead.

I remember a time when I was called to leave my familiar. It was 14 years ago when I took the plunge and relocated to the DMV. Looking back it was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I didn’t have all the answers. Heck, I barely had a job. But one thing was certain, I knew I couldn't stay in the city anymore. And I was not going to be shown what was ahead until I made a quality decision to move forward.

Leaders what are you refusing to leave behind? What about your leadership model do you need to let go? Where are you being called to that's ahead? Who is being called to go with you? Who is being called to stay behind?

Do you know what happened after Abram left his familiar? The city where Lot stayed had to be evacuated & burned. Yup, Abram was unaware but he was leaving behind a bad situation that was going to get worse. There was no way Abram could turn back. He could only look forward.

What about you? Are you willing to stay in a city that’s about to be burned?

Leaders make no mistake about it, you are being called forward! Everything you see will be given. Everything you see will be yours.

This is not a season to get caught up. This is a season to come up!

Leaders lift up your eyes from where you are!  

Now…..See!

www.ethelisgrace.com
His voice – My Life – Our Ministry
@Ethelisgrace | facebook | instagram | twitter
#mom #workingmother #wife #family #leader #God

No Plan B

Have you ever thought about what life would be like if we didn't have options? One store to shop from. One fast food restaurant to choose from. Only one type of high heel shoe to purchase. What would it be like if we couldn't choose?

I can remember buying my first house and having to consider all the possible outcomes of where I could go to live. Or what type of home to buy. By the time I narrowed my location and price point the homes available to me narrowed too. And once I put a contract on my home of choice I could not back out and look at another house unless the contract fell apart.

Did you know that God can't back out of his contract with you? He says in Hebrews 6:13 “For when God made a promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” Hebrews 6:13-14 KJV. It also reads in vs 18 that it is impossible for God to lie. In essence, once he speaks he has no other option about what he says. In essence, he hàs no plan B.

Think about that for a moment...God has no options. He didn't say in Genesis 1:1  Let there be light and if not then continue in darkness. Or let the waters bring forth fish and if not then dogs will do. God absolutely said what he says and doesn't consider alternatives. And since we are made in his image we also have the ability to not consider alternatives.

Now, wait, because I already know what you are thinking. I am not suggesting that you only seek out one choice. That would be torture. The beauty of life begins with selection.  

I am saying to consider what God does. He decides and does not waiver from his choice. Before God speaks he knows exactly what he wants. God chooses his outcomes even before they exist. What would your life look like if you began to choose like that?

God chose light and spoke light in the beginning and saw (Genesis 1:3). He did not speak thinking of an alternative to light. He spoke knowing there was no other option other than his choice of light.

A core value for every leader should be decision making. You must have the confidence and the ability to choose. You must choose your vision. You must choose your platform. You must choose your voice.

What happens with many of us, is we step out on things before we have decided. But like God we need to decide before we speak or do anything. Because once we decide as leaders, all options cease.

When leaders decide, there are no plan B's!

www.ethelisgrace.com

His voice – My Life – Our Ministry
@Ethelisgrace |facebook |twitter |instagram
#mom #workingmother #wife #family #leader #God