Point to Ponder:
Do your actions, attitude and words epitomize that of the strong, confident, independent, capable, kind, merciful and hard-working woman God created you to be?
Friday was International Women’s Day, a day set aside to celebrate and acknowledge all that women have overcome and accomplished. Excitingly in iGnite, everyday is women’s day- whoop whoop!…and we don’t need a special day on the calendar to be reminded of our greatness and the infinite possibilities that lie ahead. In fact, Biblically our greatness was defined by the “Master Craftsman”, the Creator of the Universe. Actually, it was Lady Wisdom who labeled God as the Master Craftsman and it was she who, according to Proverbs 8: 21-31, was with Him since the beginning, sat with Him when he established the sky, when He laid down the shore as a boundary, put limits on the water and determined the foundations of the Earth. Everyday she was His delightful companion—elated by the world He made and all of it’s fine creatures. Lady Wisdom was especially pleased by humanity.
If that's not cool enough, going a step further in Proverbs 31:10 - 28, the woman described is freakin’ awesome! There isn’t one weak thing about her. She’s strong, independent, capable and cares for her husband, her family and the poor. She’s a faithful wife, nurturing mother, extremely kind and generous, hard-working and a business woman. Check her out:
“Her worth far exceeds that of rubies or expensive jewelry. She inspires trust, and her husband’s heart is safe with her, and because of her, he has every good thing. Every day of her life she does what is best for him, never anything harmful or hurtful. Delight attends her work and guides her fingers and she selects the finest wool and flax for spinning. She moves through the market like merchant ships that dock here and there in distant ports, finally arriving home with food she’s carried afar. She rises from bed early, in the still of the night, carefully preparing food for her family and providing a portion to her servants. She has a plan. She considers some land and buys it; then with her earnings, she plants a vineyard. She wraps herself in strength, carries herself with confidence and works hard, strengthening her arms for the task at hand. She tastes success and knows it is good, and under the lamplight she works deep into the night. Her hands skillfully place the unspun flax and wool on the distaff, and her fingers twist the spindle until thread forms. She reaches out to the poor and extends mercy to those in need. She is not worried about the cold or the snow for her family, for she has clothed them all in warm crimson coats. She makes her own bed linens and clothes herself in purple fine cloth. She conducts her conversations with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is ever her concern. She directs the activities of her household, and never does she indulge in laziness. Her children rise up and bless her. Her husband, too, joins in the praise."
So here’s the deal. By perfect design, our greatness, purpose and potential was written long before we or special holidays ever existed. To be precise, the book of Proverbs was written anywhere from 300 BC to 1000 BC, so it’s been declared for quite some time. The real question is whether or not we choose to believe in our divinely inspired greatness, purpose and potential. This is a decision we get to make every day, and a day on the calendar will never determine or define us.
Because we don't always need to hear something new, often we just need to be reminded of what is, listed below are our 10 "You Go Girl" sayings, quotes and mantras we posted on Women’s Day. Be sure to check them out, print them and share with all of the women and men you love. Beyond “You Go Girl!” they are non-gender specific nuggets of inspiration, motivation and love. For couples, families, team, turn YOU into WE. #PowerofWE
In conclusion, I encourage you to watch and share the video of Heather Dorniden (shown below). The quality of the video isn’t all that great, but dang, it’s a good one! Talk about YOU GO GIRL!, being unstoppable and an overcomer….Heather epitomizes what I believe is real life for very-single one of us, as well as our greatness, purpose and potential. With a plan we confidently go for it, experience usual set-backs, get back up, and crush it! If we so choose and dare, this is our daily design.
1. Never ever underestimate your greatness. God created you to do something GREAT! 2. Chase your DREAMS...whatever they are and wherever you are! 3. You are UNSTOPPABLE & an OVERCOMER! 4. EMBRACE the crazy and live a crazy amazing life! 5. There's NOTHING you can't do!
6. YES you can! 7. You can do HARD things! 8. Don't be afraid to be AMAZING! 9. YOU and only you define you! 10. "The ONLY thing stopping you from achieving your greatest and most incredible life is the BS story you keep telling yourself." Jordan Belfort
Click on the picture to watch video
Action Item
Evaluate all of the divinely-inspired characteristics God intended you to be and live out, and determine one that you need to start believing and live out.