My 10...

7 months ago, I read a devotional that highlighted 6-word bios. In other words, the question (& challenge) was: "If you were to describe yourself in less than 10 words (even shorter than an elevator pitch) what will those words be?"

I couldn't come up with 6 words so here's mine in 10 words:

Here to thrive and support others not just to survive!

I like this picture because it encapsulates it so well for me.

I'd love to hear what your 6-10 words would be - feel free to post it via a comment on this blog, on Twitter or on Facebook...and beyond that, do your part to live up to it...

Don't give...

...hand-outs.

A lot of us are willing, and mostly able, to give to others. Ok, before I go too far let me restate that maybe it's just a few of us that are willing to give whether or not we're able to.

For those of us who are willing and able to, I'd like you to take a step back the next time you want to give and ask yourself: "Is this going to be a 'hand-out' or a 'hand-up'?"

Be Energized

Living a fruitful and fulfilling life takes work - more precisely, hard work. So you should enjoy what you do or look for something you enjoy and do it well - otherwise you'll be unhappy for a long time. Look within (and around) for something you are passionate about - pursuing it will propel you to success...

"You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing."

~ Dale Carnegie

"Without passion you don't have energy, without energy you have nothing."

~ Donald Trump

With exactly 60 days to go in this Leap year, I encourage you to be energized and aspire to leap with joy and accomplishment by the end of this year.

You can also start planning on how to continue leaping for joy and covering ground in the years to come.

Reach out...

...and help somebody up...

1 John 3:17-18 says: If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. (CEV)

I like Kelly Hastings' term "PowHER". She said: "We must be comfortable with our PowHER to join with other women and exponentially grow each other's PowHER." It all starts with identifying a need and doing something about it. Indeed like Henry Ford said: "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." When you have all you need...you have PowHER to, and should, help others.

This African proverb puts it so well: "The sky is wide enough for all the birds to fly together without touching each other's wings". Of a truth, we can all succeed without diminshing the next person's success - there is more than enough success to go round. Definitely a fringe benefit of serving a limitless God.

In Michelle Mckinney Hammond's words: The power of being a woman begins with you recognizing your power then using it wisely to empower everyone around you. At the 2012 Woman, thou art loosed Conference (www.wtal.org), Bishop TD Jakes said: "If you push anyone who is going up, you need to go up too..." Let's be wise - reach out and help others succeed...and you'll see yourself succeed too.

Diana Ross' 1970 song "Reach out and touch" came to mind as I was reviewing this piece before posting. Here are the lyrics I got from the internet - think about each line as you join me to sing and also...

Chorus:

Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand
Make this world a better place
If you can

(Just try)
Take a little time out of your busy day
To give encouragement
To someone who's lost the way
(Just try)
Or would I be talking to a stone
If I asked you
To share a problem that's not your own
We can change things if we start giving
Why don't you

Chorus

(Just try)

If you see an old friend on the street

And he's down

Remember his shoes could fit your feet

(Just try)

Try a little kindness you'll see

It's something that comes very naturally

We can change things if we start giving 

Wow!

I couldn't think of a better day to share this than on a Monday - the first day of the working week...and the first day of the last quarter of this leap year. I know that some of us may have already started assessing the passing year and thinking about what they should do (possibly differently) next year. Well, if you haven't, now is a good time to.

Life has so much in store for all of us and God has even more in store for us than we can imagine. He expects us to, as I'd say: Wow the world. Yes, God wants us to greatly impress and excite the world.

About 2 weeks ago, it hit me (in an easy-to-remember way) that the only and even the easiest way to "wow the world" is to be a Willing & Obedient Woman.

God has promised that:

"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land."*

If there is anything I've learned from experience is the sheer strength of a woman's will power. It is up to us. Be a WOW! God created u to be a wonder.**

References:

*Isaiah 1:19 - God's Word Translation

** Isaiah 8:18 - Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the Lord of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.

Keeping it simple

The best way to do and even remember things is by keeping it simple.

A few weeks ago, I got a dressing tip that I just can't keep to myself.

In fact it is as simple as ABC...

Always Be Comfortable

Taking that beyond the way we dress, I recommend that you should:

Always Be Considerate

Afterall, that is the only way an Empowered woman like you can empower others.

Next size please...

I'm publishing this piece today because I believe a lot of us will be getting ready to return to work (as (our) children return to school) - and we may be shopping for them and ourselves too...after all it's a Saturday.