Women of Reverence welcomes Kerry Duffield as a guest blogger.
Kerry Duffield is married to the love of her life, Lance, and they are blessed with two beautiful kiddies. In 2015 they moved up to Joburg as part of the planting team that planted Centre Church, where they still serve on leadership.
Kerry loves a good cup of coffee, adventuring with her precious family and sharing her love for Jesus!
Kerry blogs over at About These Things where she shares the things that God has placed on her heart and encourages women to seek God and to focus on those things that are lovely, true and pleasing to Him. (Philippians 4:8).
You can connect with Kerry over at her blog:
www.aboutthesethings.com
Or on Instagram
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Each of us has a story. You may feel that your story is insignificant, hard to share or even difficult to put into words. But the bottom line is that your story matters. It matters because you matter.
MY STORY
For many years I was deeply ashamed of my story.
I was 9 years old when my mom told me that I was adopted. My grandparents had adopted me after being rescued out of an extremely desperate situation.
After being born premature, my birth mother had skipped the hospital and gone on a drug bender with her boyfriend. I was found neglected, sick and close to death whilst my parents lay unconscious and unaware that I had been taken from them.
After I learnt of my adoption, my birth mother came back into our lives. The next couple of years settled the unworthiness I felt in my heart as she came and went multiple times, leaving me confused, hurt and rejected.
For years after learning about my beginning I questioned my value and worth. I labeled myself ‘unworthy’,’ unloved’ and ‘unwanted’ and saw myself as an unfortunate mistake. I started to believe the lies that I told myself: that I was too much, or not enough. I was afraid others would see how much I didn’t measure up and I hid my natural talents and God-given gifts so that I wouldn’t draw attention to myself and could pass by unseen.
These self-given labels stopped me from believing the promises that God had given me and held me back from pursuing the purpose and calling over my life.
Sister, the beginning of my story could well have been the end of it as well. For a short time it almost was. The false identity that I carried around with me had dis-empowered me from living a full life as a wife, mom, and friend and as an effective woman in Christ.
But Jesus!
Gradually through reading Gods word and seeking His heart the Holy Spirit mended those broken thought patterns as I formed a new identity as His daughter. I came to see myself as chosen, loved and called to a purpose in His kingdom. (Ephesians 2:10 and Psalm 139:13-16)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
There is hope for your story.
Sweet friend, perhaps like me you have come to believe that your story has disqualified you from pursuing the life God has called you to. You may even feel like God has lost control of your story or forgotten you in the thick of it. I want to encourage you today; God is deeply concerned and actively involved in each of our stories. Don’t let fear hold you back. Don’t be afraid to be seen. Don’t let the lies you tell yourself keep you from walking the path that God has purposed for you. He is able to redeem your story.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:10
He made you to be a masterpiece; he made you to shine for HIS glory.
Are there things that God has placed inside of you that you have buried down deep?
What are the lies that you have told yourself because you are afraid of how others may see you?
• I’m not qualified or worthy
• I’m too young, I have no experience
• I’m too old to start something new
• I have nothing to contribute of value
What Labels have you given yourself that are stopping you from stepping into your calling?
• Failure
• Weak
• Emotional
• Write-off
Sound familiar? Oh goodness!
Here’s a little truth for you.
God is not constrained by labels
God has given you an identity, gifts and talents to shine his heart in a way that is unique to you. It’s okay to shine differently from everyone else! He made you magnificently unique, along with a purpose and calling unique to you.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
He has equipped you
Sister, Jesus qualifies you. He’s put you here (to be seen) to partner with Him in His mission for His glory. When we embrace the gifts and talents that He has given us we find that we no longer have to strive for acceptance, search for validation or struggle with our identity.
You’re not alone
Nothing separates you from the love of God (Romans 12:12) His will is always to bring you close and to restore you to His purpose and plan for your life.
Whatever you think disqualifies you, whether your story is one you inherited or one you created yourself, your beginning, your middle and your now DOES NOT determine the end of your story.
Your story is powerful in the hands of Jesus. Rise boldly daughter of God and
“Don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” TPT
Love
Kerry