Mask Off

Don’t you hate whenever you go to the doctor and they’re swamped/backed up or had to step out of the office? You’ve taken time out of your schedule to get to them and you’re ready to get treated that day. (Sometimes there’s this whole mental preparation that goes into going to the doctor’s office for some folks, like moi.)

On some days when the doctor’s running behind, the nurse may inform you that you’ll be able to see the Physician’s Assistant (PA) to get you in, treated, and on your way… cool. Seems like a pretty normal scenario/course of events right? Nothing strange about seeing the PA right? They’ve gone to school, been licensed, and dispatched by the actual doctor. Cool?

Now that we have *that* understood, let me talk to all of my “strong people” out there… pull up.

Why is it so hard to accept the help that the Lord has sent to you in the form of the good people He’s placed in your life?

For people who are always used to taking care of everything and everyone else, it’s oftentimes extremely hard to accept or even properly utilize help when we’re offered it. Just like in the physical absence of the doctor (the Great Physician), the Physician's Assistant is given + entrusted with the authority to see/treat you.  

After you’re taken to the back at the doctor’s office, you’re usually asked a series of questions, about what brings you in, how you’re feeling, etc. Think about how before the questions start, the door is always closed before they begin. There's intentional privacy created in the room because it requires your transparency and accurate treatment requires honest confession. When is the last time you honestly told a friend how you were doing when they asked? How long have you been hiding behind a facade?

Quit fronting.

For me, that moment was about 2 years ago when my best friend sent a text asking “Are you okay?” It took me almost 20 minutes to text back “no” … through a flurry of tears, a snotty nose, and anxiety being on TEN that day. Something in our friendship broke that day… in the most beautiful way. Allowing her to comfort, console, and pray for me pushed both of us to another level spiritually that day. I literally do not know what would have become of my mental state if I had not simply been honest with her that day.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

There is a required vulnerability before the Lord …and those assigned to you to help get you where you need to be spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. 

Caveat: The nurse may ask you questions first, but they’re only authorized to treat/diagnose up to a certain point. And that's not a diss to the nurse, but that's out of her authority/scope. Message?

Everybody ain’t authorized for everything. 

Wisdom + discretion are key!

I encourage you to take inventory of all of the people God has sent to assist you on your journey and I pray that you realize that in your weakness, His strength is made perfect… even if it’s in the form of sending other people to help you carry the load. It's my prayer that you recognize those who the Lord has given for you to be your authentic self with, even when you take the mask off!

I love you & as always, praying for you!

LouBay!

x

A GOOD Day Indeed

As a resident of a state (Louisiana) with strong cultural + deeply religious ties to the Christian faith (irrespective of denomination), I’m currently beginning a long weekend starting with today… Good Friday. Depending on who you talk to, the day is usually commemorated with celebration and/or solemn remembrance. This day marks one of *the* most important days in the Christian religion, the day when Jesus offered up His life to save us. Today symbolizes the day love CHOSE us.

Typing those words still shakes me to my core. Like, I *know* me … I mess up, I’m not always as nice as I would like to think that I am, I don’t always apologize when I should because my pride would get in the way, and sometimes I get an attitude (usually from a combination of lack of prayer + food… fight me).

Yet, the Son of Man … King of Kings … Lord of Lords … decides “Yep, her… I’m going to give my life for HER.”                                   

In all honesty, there are some days when I become overwhelmed with the love + grace shown to me in times where I probably wouldn’t have given it to myself. It is on those days that I am reminded that God’s plan + purpose is always greater and always wins in the end. God sees the fullness of purpose in us even when we can’t fathom how we’ll make it another moment.

Think of the absolute hardest or most difficult day you have ever had… know what it has in common with everyone else reading this? We all made it past it. Some more broken, hurt, or scarred than others… but we all made it.

With our steps ordered by God, we are sometimes brought to a place that we think is literally going to take us out.  Let me offer you this: the hard place/thing was never to break you but to grow you and glorify the Father.  Literally, as the time of Jesus’ death approached, know what His response was?

In a few verses above this (v.24), Jesus tells them that He must die so that His life will produce a plentiful harvest of new lives. He was willing to lay His life down so that we would have ours. He submitted to the Lord’s plan unto death trusting the harvest to come.

…So now, that we’ve discussed our Savior laying His life down for others… what do you have to let die so that you can live again and others around you can thrive? Jesus literally laid down His life so that we may have life and life more abundantly… 

What’s keeping you from abundance?

The abundance I speak of is in regards to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control … the saturating, overwhelming manifestation of the Holy Spirit at work in your life.

As we enter this Easter/Resurrection weekend, take a moment to reflect on how submissive you are to the work the Lord wants to do in, on, & through you to grow you and glorify Him.

What are you willing to lose to win again? Is it hatred? Pride? Anger? Gossiping? Discord? Toxic relationships? Unforgiveness?

It is my prayer that we all honestly look inward and relinquish everything that prohibits the free flow of God’s love, peace, & joy in our lives so that we can better serve our God, our families/communities and ourselves.

Love you guys!

LouBay :-)