Experiencing Grace “I do not at all understand the mystery of grace- only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us." -Anne Lamott Hey everybody  If you are new here;Welcome. I Am Shakira Syn. Many of you know I am in school....again I haven’t shared with you guys in the past week or so as I wanted to be fully immersed in the process of starting school. *GEM* Being Present is A Gift   Don’t take the moments for granted. So as I’m writing this I have completed my first official week at Grace. Today’s blog will be my thoughts & tidbits I’ve learned about myself during this week. I’d love for you guys to join me for this journey. Be sure to comment and share. *GEM* Our testimonies aren’t meant to keep hidden away. Let’s dive in shall we..... Orientation, was probably the most powerful gathering I’ve been to outside of church. It’s something about a room full of women on the verge of change. The e...

Free Your Mind & The Rest Will Follow  Have you ever had a conversation that gets you to thinking.......and questioning aspects of your life?  I was told the other day paraphrasing  "I don't look like the type that struggles to get up in the morning.  It seems like you just get up and go......" So I pondered  What has happened to my Get up and Go?  I used to be that girl.... up at 5am, workout, dog walked, quiet time with the Lord, lunch packed, makeup and hair, plus dinner in the slow cooker all before work! *POW*  But as of late I've been in a season where my spirit has been bruised (I refuse to say broken cause I'm not built to Break!!!)  However my scars were beginning to show more outwardly.  Running late, morning struggles, issues with my diet, trouble focusing, not wanting to even leave my house let alone my room,headaches, back aches, knee aches You Name It!!!!!! (insert Shirley Caesar squall here...

Self- Esteem Revisited Why Is It Soooo Hard To See Ourselves The Way GOD Sees Us? self-es·teem ˈˌself əˈstēm/ noun noun:  self-esteem confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect. "assertiveness training for those with low self-esteem" synonyms: self-respect ,  pride ,  dignity ,  self-regard , faith in oneself;  morale ,  self-confidence ,  confidence ,  self-assurance "the best thing I ever did for my self-esteem was to divorce Roger" So I posted on my Facebook page asking "Self Esteem..... Thoughts?"  Only one person braved the comment section.  To sum up his response Self Esteem is not Biblical. As I read his response my thoughts swirled......." Why cant we see ourselves the way GOD sees us?" (in my best Carrie Bradshaw thought bubble voice) I will be honest this notion has only become clear to me in my most recent years.  We live in a societ...

When I think of someone putting their story into words, I think of someone sitting at a typewriter and typing away.......  I had a typewriter growing up and spent countless hours writing on it. Poems, stories, songs (the infamous "Please Be Mine" was penned by yours truly) . As I Purged last week I came across some of my writings........  I was instantly brought back to the exact place and time they were written even the thoughts and feelings.  One stuck out in particular.  My first spoken word piece after being saved. The Whispers...... I don't know about you but all my life there has ALWAYS been somebody whispering something!  *GEM* There will Always be someone saying something. It isn't about what they say. Its about how you react to whats being said.  So I thought I would share "The Whispers" with you all  Whisper    to   speak   with   soft,   hushed   sounds,   using   the ...