It’s Graduation Season.

Graduation Season is one of my most favorite times of the year.  The celebration and emotions that accompany the completion of a goal or set of goals is to me both, contagious and inspiring.

Graduation is the culmination of a season of preparation.  That season has been filled with lessons and tests, ups and downs, successes and challenges.  BUT!  The end has come and you’ve made it. AWESOME!!!!

While it has been some years since I’ve been in a formal training program where a graduation ceremony was performed, I can say, that each year, I try to ensure I have a personal “graduation”.  You see, during this season I take the time to reflect over the past year, recounting my lessons, and the tests God gave to ensure I learned them.  I consider what I have begun in the past year, and what is now complete.  I celebrate my achievements as I begin to also ask the question; “Now Lord, what is the next step?”

To my family and friends, and graduates of all ages, I personally would like to say congratulations to you, and job well done.  For the rest of us – let us use this time to reflect on our personal progress over the past year; Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally.  Document the movement in your life. Celebrate the successes, and Thank God for the completion of those things that would come to an end at this time, and for the Doors He is now opening unto you. It's not only an End of a Season, it is also the Beginning of a New one!

Philippians 1:6

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Be Strong - Take Courage

Deuteronomy 31:6 (The Message)

 6 "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)
  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and
 discipline and self-control.

W

hat are you afraid of?  Being alone or feeling rejected?  Authority, truth, exposure, competition or confrontation?  What makes you, back up, turn around, or bow down?

Everyone experiences fear.  Actually, fear is not all bad.  Some of the emotions attached to fear are meant to serve as a “warning” when you are embarking on dangerous territory.  But what I am addressing now, is that fear that causes us to quit, or to be quiet when we should speak out, even the fear of success.

 If you do not put fear in “check” with the truth of the word of God, it becomes an immobilizing force, stopping you dead in your tracks, causing you to take unnecessary detours.  You must examine your fears. I found that many of my greatest fears were imagined.  It’s like the story of the ferocious barking dog that scared a young schoolgirl every day, causing her to detour from the shortest route home.  One day, she got tired of going around that dog, and decided to meet it face to face. Well, upon approaching the dog, looking it dead in its face,  she discovered the dog had no teeth. 

Except you take hold of the truths of God, your mind is a playground for the devil.  Don’t allow any fear, real or imagined, to keep you from experiencing the life that God has promised you. There is nothing like the feeling of having accomplished something you did not think you could do, or that others told you, you would never do.  Take it from me, a schoolgirl at heart!

Copyright 2011 - Victoria L. Burse    Visit me online at www.victoriaburse.com or on facebook at facebook.com/victoria.burse

Lady in Waiting!

beautifully, peacefully, she’s as strong as strong could be.
and there she sits, quietly
she, is a Lady in Waiting.

through her laughter, through her tears
she’s held on, it’s been years.
constantly confronting, her greatest fears
she, is a Lady in Waiting.

she busied herself, she stretched herself
numbing the desires that she felt.
trying not to count, the time she had left
she, is a Lady in Waiting.

while tempted by the sweet things this world imparts
from His very ways, she would never depart.
for His promises and precepts lay deep in her heart
she, is a Lady in Waiting.

waiting to birth that vision, no one else can understand.
to wear a diamond, upon her left hand.
to bring life into this world, like only a woman can
she, is a Lady in Waiting.

hold on my Sister, don’t give in
you must believe, believe in Him.
in the one who promised, that you would Win
YOU, HIS Lady in Waiting.

for it brings Him glory, to bless your life
to bring you joy, for your pain and strife.
for you He made the ultimate sacrifice
YOU, HIS Lady in Waiting.

so cling to Him, yes draw Him near
through Him you’ll conquer, every fear.
And why He had you wait
soon becomes clear
HIS QUEEN! His Lady in Waiting.
from "Sabbath Songs"  Copyright © 2011 Victoria L. Burse

WELCOME TO THE LADY IN WAITING BLOG
On this very day, as I pen the first words of this post, I am in the midst of the manifestation of something that God promised me more than 8 years ago.  It is so funny how we hate to wait, but as the appointed time arrives, (in other words, as I sit here today:) I hear just a wee small voice saying "Am I ready?"

While I'm sure there will be many challenges I have not anticipated, I do know this for sure.  I do know that we cannot as women, continue to grow and mature and be feed Spiritually and otherwise, and not give back.  We have kept many of our sisters "waiting" much to long.  Waiting on a word of encouragement or advice, waiting on a helping hand, and even waiting on a simple hug, or an "I understand."

We are not transparent enough with each other, not willing to share enough with each other.  Lets change this pattern, lets break this curse.  And then, lets take it further.  Instead of just Speaking out, lets be about Reaching out. Put some action to your words.  Lets get started TODAY!