Last night I was going through some things I had written from years ago and I came across this piece. It was some things- some pearls I had learned over the course of the years and was sharing with a young person that was graduating from college. Just some words of wisdom. I'm glad I came across it as I needed the reminder. I hope you get something from it.



WORDS TO REMEMBER
By Wendy M. Reynolds


• Allow only God to define who you are (He is the only one who knows you from your start to your finish). If you allow other people and other things to define you, you may never know who you really are.

• Never allow the mistakes or accomplishments of your past to hinder your future accomplishments (The past is in the past. It is good to look back and reflect on it and learn from it but never was it meant for you to live in it!)

• Take out the time to be good to yourself. Treat yourself better than anyone else could possibly treat you. By loving yourself and by treating yourself good, you set the standard for how other people will treat you. You will not permit others to mistreat or disrespect you.

• Dream large dreams and expect them to come true. Write down your visions, goals and dreams and use them as a blueprint. Look over them frequently and examine yourself daily.

• Seek knowledge and wisdom. They are worth more than silver and gold (They also attract silver and gold).

• Do not be afraid to be creative or try something new.

• Always know that someone is looking to you as an example. Be careful of the life you live and the example you set.

• Don't wait for people to affirm you, agree with you or motivate you.

• Remember that other people will see you as you see you.

• Have friends who are reaching for excellence and who encourage you to reach for excellence. Friends sharpen each other. Their influence can help you to become better or worse.

• Never allow anyone to speak negatively about a friend or anyone else while in your home or in your presence. Refuse to gossip.

• Have at least one or two friends whom you can totally be yourself with without fear or rejection, judgment or condemnation.

• Be willing to invest in the lives of other people and their dreams.

• Be a giver but learn also to receive for this is part of the principles of God and in so doing you are allowing someone else to be blessed by their giving.

• Be your biggest fan and your biggest supporter (but stay humble).

• Always keep in mind the importance of family. For when friends turn their backs on you, family (with all their positives and negatives) should be there - especially parents and siblings. Never allow anyone or anything to come in and cause separation (without good cause) within your family. They (your immediate family) have been with you since you have been you!

• Learn to really listen when someone is speaking to you.

• Speak with confidence and don’t be easily intimidated.

• Read a lot and be willing to learn from others.

• Know that wherever you are in life, whether you like it there or not, there is always something to be learned there.

• Speak the truth and speak words of life.

• Always look for ways to improve yourself in every area of life.

• Allow faith to operate in your life.

• Always remember that God has confidence in your abilities. He designed who you are and He never makes mistakes. So have confidence not only in Him but also in yourself.

• Always remember that promotion comes from God. When God promotes you, there is not a person anywhere that can demote you.

• Take time to get alone with God and meditate on His word on a continual bases and allow Him to purge you, strengthen you and direct you.

• Pray Constantly!

• Set high standards for your life.

• Live excellent!

I'M READY!


Purify me. Burn the dross of sin off of my life. Now you know those are some powerful words. One might ask me if I am in my right mind or not. Do you know what you are asking for? Do you know what you’re setting yourself up for? I don’t know if I am in the right mind according to the standards of man and the world but I do know this: I want to be where God wants me to be. I want to stop feeling like I am feeling. I need Him to remove the toxins out of my life and spirit. Whatever You want from me God- What do You want from me? Empty me of myself. Empty me of sin, bitterness, selfishness, complacency or whatever. I am ready to let God deal with me. I know He has been already. He has been stripping me of everything that is not of Him. He has removed any security blankets that I have attached myself to. I feel naked, exposed, empty and half dead.

It was kind of funny. In one of my bits of frustration, I said, “God, what are you doing in my life? It feels like You are trying to kill me! Are You trying to Kill me?” “Yes.” That was His answer. Alright, He got my attention! He reminded me that I needed to be dead to my flesh- to my will. I have to be a living sacrifice. He reminded me of the days when He required that His people render under Him sacrifices. Can you imagine offering up a living sacrifice? Taking something that’s alive and tying it down. Oh come on. It’s not going to just let you tie it down. It’s going to put up a fight. It will start kicking and screaming. That’s how our flesh is. We try to tie it down and it kicks and screams in an attempt to get loose and get its way. So now, I’m tired of fighting- tired of kicking and screaming- tired of trying to blend in my way and plan with His way. TIRED!!!!! Tired of running from who God called me to be. Now it’s not like my life is terrible. But I know there’s more and not just more to get. There is more to give. I know God’s wants more for me and from me.

I got to a point where I was like, “Look, don’t ask me for nothing! I don’t have anything else to give! What part of that don’t you understand?” Yet, I found myself constantly in situations where I have to sow into people. I had to encourage someone. I had to advise someone. I realize that it was only hard when I tried to do it in my own strength. It was only hard when I didn’t take the time to sit at God’s feet in order for Him to replenish me and restore me and put His strength in me. It was only hard when I allowed the cares of the world to overwhelm me. It was only hard when I made it about me! But the people of God- we are of a different Spirit. We can’t depend on our natural abilities and we cannot walk by our feelings. If we do, we will never get anything done. We must depend upon God. He knows what He put in us and He knows how to get it out of us. So we might as well just let Him work. We might as well stop interrupting His plan.

This year has been amazing. I can’t write down the many times where I have been left shaking my head. The trials have been deep. Sometimes I felt like I was being stoned- just one thing hitting me after another- one hard blow after another. But in the midst of it all, the revelation that God has been pouring into me has been even more amazing. That’s why I know there’s more. That’s why I know He wants more. That’s why I know I can't stay at the level I’m at. I have to come up. And no matter how hard the enemy has been trying to get me to throw up my hands, buckle under pressure, and give up, I can’t. I can’t give up! Don’t get me wrong, many times I want to. But I can’t.

Sometimes things become so hard and unusually crazy. It’s like the world and everything in it is having a nervous break down but I thank God that even when stuff seems so crazy and messed up and I feel like I will never be able to get it right- He reminds me of His presence, of His grace, of His mercy and of His love. He told me, “ In spite of everything, you’re still standing. In spite of everything, you keep pressing and praying because you KNOW that I won't fail you. I'm greater than anything you face. I AM THAT I AM! The Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the End. Nothing and no one (not even yourself) can pluck you out of My hand. I'll bring you through and put you over the top. You will not fail. You will prevail!" So it is here- right in the midst of where I am that I worship God- In the midst of my struggles- In the midst of my own personal insecurities- In midst of my mistakes. Yeah, I do throw up my hands-- not in defeat--- no- not in failure or buckling under pressure but in blessed assurance that Jesus is mine and He is enough!

So, I’m ready God. Ready to be who You’ve called me to be. Do what needs to be done to get me to where I need to be in You! Oh my, Did I say that?