One of my greatest joys in life is always being right about everything.

Ok, I’m not always right but, man, sometimes I wish I was.

If anything, I am habitually rebellious. For the majority of my adulthood I have operated under the belief that I’d rather beg for forgiveness, instead of asking for permission. This means that I often (and I do mean often) do what I want and then contend with whatever the consequences may be later. Yet yesterday as I sat in church, something clicked with me in a new way and I realized that I truly have to change my mentality. Understand this, I’m not changing because that way hasn’t successfully worked for me in the past, but instead I’m choosing the path of growth because God has greater for me. (And for you, too!)

Whew; it’s time for more growing pains!

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For as long as I can remember, I have been a big fan of constructive criticism (now known as “courageous conversations”). I value the words of correction that others offer me in an attempt to help grow me as a person. To be absolutely clear, there is a difference between criticism and constructive criticism. When the words spoken are constructive, they are designed to build and improve what already exists. They are not designed to tear down and weaken a person, they are designed to be uplifting and developmental. On no day of the week am I ever the person that one should approach with straight criticism- words designed to hurt me, not help me. Yet on every day that ends with a Y, I welcome that which can make me better. I don’t consider this a need for validation, but instead I view it as a way to better see the issues that lie in my blind spots. I am human; naturally, I see the errors of others with perfect 20/20 vision, while seeing my own errors with the eyesight of a 90 year old person with glaucoma. However, I have an unwavering desire to grow- never remaining stagnant- and become the best possible version of myself. As such, I actively reach out to close loved ones to get feedback on everything that I do.

After I preach.
At the end of every school year.
Late Monday afternoons after these posts go public.

I like to hear not so much their thoughts on what I said, but their feedback on how I said it. Then I take all of their comments and suggestions, use them to grow myself, and then I build from there. I know that it can be a bit much, so to those who serve as my sounding board:

THANK YOU!!!!

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Yet for as much as I cherish constructive criticism, when God is the one offering correction, it stings in a way that I can’t explain… and then soothes beyond comprehension.

And that’s where I am today.

Yesterday when God spoke to my heart during worship service, I realized that I had been running from Him for longer than I can even remember and for reasons that now escape me. The sermon that my senior pastor delivered yesterday sat uncomfortably comfortable in my heart and I knew that there was only one way to go forward…

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Beloved, I’m never normally one to end anything with a cliffhanger, yet today I am ending here and inviting you to join me at 5:30pm EST on my monthly livestream as I continue sharing about Godly Connections.I forever thank you for traveling with me on this healing journey and I am excited to see what God will do next.

Be blessed.