Jan 17, 2018 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Hey. It happens.
So, the funny thing is, I teach people to find what their brand is and stick with it.
- What do people appreciate the most about you?
- What are your strengths?
- What are you most comfortable doing/teaching/sharing?
- What makes you happy?
And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like … Oh, wait. Sorry. Sinatra in my head. [Note to self: Take the fedora off the shelf.] Ahem. What I was saying was, I sort of took my own advice … and tossed it aside. But like a well-tossed neon pink frisbee, it came right back at me. {Don’t, okay? I know you know I meant boomerang. But frisbee just sounded better. So just … keep reading. Thanks.}
Was it really just last summer I did a renovative rebrand? Why, yes. Yes, I think it was. Who can forget my Wizard of Oz poppies populating the background for my new parent website?
Frankly, My Dear . . . : MJR Website
And how easily the storefront came together, and then, voila! The blog redesign. I can’t really tell ya which is my favorite. I heart them all. Like, a lot.
Not-so-secret sidenote: This Girl, who was never terribly feminine, is enjoying the sights and smells of flowers, perfume, and all things girly. What the heck?! I mean, true story: Even my journals and Happy Planners are, well, pretty.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Happy Planners 2018
But somewhere in the midst of being real, selling books, and claiming my Southern Belle-ness, I realized there was something more. Something deep inside that tied everything together even though it seemed like a chaotic mess.
You all know what it is. At least, you know part of it. Hurricane. My word for the year. Hey, it adopted me, okay?
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time I Rebranded Myself With Pizza Sauce
But that’s why it’s taken me two weeks to follow up with another post. Because I couldn’t put my finger on the first part. I mean, yah. Happy chaos seems to really be my thing. But what does that even mean?
So there I am at lunch with my local bestie, Beckie Lindsey, celebrating the contract for her first book, scarfing pizza, and talking media and marketing and branding and we throw some ideas around and BAM. She’s branded. Like, in a good way. Beckie Lindsey: God in real life … Also, coffee. Yup. That’s her!
Meanwhile, my other media sounding board, Aaron ~ you may know him from his Firsts in Fiction podcast, wink wink. You know. The one This Girl produces every other week ~ he left the lunch. So I text him and say, “Hey, Faux Bro. What’s my branding and recognition?” You know what they both say? Him and Becks? Branding and Recognition. Ooh, big help, guys. Big. Help. not.
And then it hit me like, well, like a hurricane. [Oh, c’mon. You knew I was gonna do that!] I’m reaching for that last mushroom on the plate and trying not to get my sleeves or bangles into the pizza sauce. It was almost an epic fail until my fancy flail saved the day (and the sleeve!). And without realizing that style is a part of my brand, I became the Bohemian Hurricane.
And all her people gasped in acknowledgment.
Yah, that’s right. Go ahead and chuckle. Nod. Do your “Mm-hmm, that’s her!” thing just like they did. ‘Cause This Girl is embracing her wilderness, her free spirit, her loud voice.
And This Girl is going places this year.
Because hurricanes rarely sit still.
Or have perfectly coiffed hair.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Bohemian Hurricane
How do you brand yourself?
TWEET THIS: That One Time I Rebranded Myself With #Pizza Sauce @RealMojo68 #socialmedia #franklymydearmojo
With wild hair and a crazy dance,
Happy branding.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Sep 20, 2017 |
By Beckie Lindsey @BeckieLindsey_
It amazes me how I can go from praising the Lord while singing along with Christian music in my car, to yelling at the person who cut me off—almost simultaneously. But sometimes I react and then regret.
The second half of the scenario plays out like this: The driver who angered me speeds by, oblivious to my plight. The music begins to fade into the background and finally disappear. Now I’m left with an onslaught of negative, harassing thoughts like, What kind of Christian are you? You’re such a phony! A loser. “Real” Christians don’t have short fuses like you! When are you going to get better with this issue?
Beckie Lindsey: Condemnation vs Conviction
A lot of believers hear condemning thoughts, and some even think it’s God. My friends, that is a LIE!
God will NEVER tell you what a sorry loser you are.
I can prove it, too. Look at what Jesus had to say:
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ” (John 3:17)
As Christ followers, we must be able to discern what we are hearing in our minds: conviction from the Holy Spirit or condemnation from an unholy spirit.
Listen, this is super important because many of us waste valuable time wallowing in condemning thoughts that center around self. This is a major tactic of the enemy to keep us focused inward rather than upward on God and outward on our mission to a lost world in need of hope. We cannot offer hope to anyone if we have lost hope ourselves.
Condemnation renders us out of commission
to accomplish the Great Commission.
WHAT IS CONDEMNATION?
1: CENSURE, BLAME 2: the act of judicially condemning.
Condemnation comes from Satan. It is an attack designed to accuse and tear you down. Revelation 12:10 refers to Satan as the accuser of the brothers and sisters.
Condemnation continually points out what a failure you are, and how badly you’ve messed up. But the biggie is this:
Condemnation shows you the problem without offering a solution.
The Bible tells us “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
WHAT IS CONVICTION?
The Bible refers to conviction as godly sorrow. We will feel grieved in our spirit, but the grief leads us to the Father.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
Condemnation says, “You’re such a failure!” Conviction says, “Come to me and I will forgive you.”
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18
The Holy Spirit will convict us when we sin. And that is a good thing because sin is a problem. Sin separates us from our holy God. Conviction feels a bit like an uncomfortable separation. A godly sense of sorrow. Along with godly sorrow comes the hope of forgiveness an opportunity for teaching and correction.
Satan will condemn and guilt, showing us the problem. God lovingly convicts, showing us the solution that leads to repentance. I don’t know about you, but I need to be reminded of this…a lot. My prayer is this article served as a reminder of God’s wonderful nature to convict, forgive, and correct.
CONDEMNATION
Guilty
Depressed
Ashamed
Accused
Blame
Shows only the problem
CONVICTION
Godly sorrow
Teaches
Hope
Points to the Father
Helps
Shows the answer
When we mess up (and we will) and the negative thoughts begin (and they will too), we must train ourselves to STOP and ask, is this teaching me and pointing toward forgiveness? Or, is this accusing and showing me only the problem?
TWEET THIS: Will you allow God to work through you instead of allowing the enemy to work on you? @RealMojo68 @BeckieLindsey_
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Beckie Lindsey is an award-winning writer, poet, freelancer, and blogger. She is the editor of Southern California Voice, a division of One Christian Voice, LLC., a national news syndicating agency. She is the author of devotions, a devotional study journal, and the upcoming YA novel, Beauties from Ashes. She and her husband Scott have three adult children, two adorable cats and live in California. Learn more about Beckie at beckielindsey16.com.
Aug 22, 2017 |
by Beckie Lindsey @BeckieLindsey_
Beckie Lindsey: Can You Identify a Counterfeit?
One of the hottest topics in our culture today is fake news. Obviously, not all news is fake. At the same time, not everything we hear and read is true. It goes without saying the importance of knowing the difference between what is authentic and what is counterfeit.
The United States Secret Service advises the best way to guard against the threat of accepting counterfeit currency, is to become more familiar with authentic currency.
The same concept can be applied to our walk with God.
The Bible states that God Himself is truth.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father accept through me.” John 14:6 NIV
Not only does this Scripture tell us that God is the truth, it reveals that Jesus is the only way to the truth of eternal life.
And yet . . .
A majority of all American Christians (52%) think that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life according to Pew Research center in 2008.
Have these Christians read John 14:6 that clearly states no one comes to the Father accept through Jesus?
Considering a more recent study conducted by Barna Group, the problem is evident. Many Christians don’t read the Bible.
- More than 60 percent of Americans can’t name either half of the Ten Commandments or the four Gospels of the New Testament.
- Some 80 percent including “born again” Christians believe that “God helps those who help themselves” is a direct quote from the Bible.
- And 31 percent believe a good person can earn his/her way into heaven.
A recent Lifeway study found that 1 in 5 churchgoers say they never read the Bible while 45 percent read it only once a week.
I’m going to ask you a tough question. Can you name the Ten Commandments? I’m not asking the question to bring shame. I’m asking it to bring awareness to our need of the truth.
If you don’t know all of the Ten Commandments, they can be found in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5.
This world is full of counterfeits that look and feel so close to the truth that we can easily be deceived. Not only do we leave ourselves vulnerable to false religions, but prone to other forms of counterfeits the world will offer. Our desire to be happy and content can lead to sources other than the true joy of God.
Here are a few common counterfeits to joy and happiness:
Money
Sex
Food
Appearance
Alcohol and drugs
Pornography
In contrast with the results from the Barna Group and LifeWay Research above, 90 percent of churchgoers said they, “desire to please and honor Jesus in all I do.”
If we desire to please and honor Jesus in all we do, we better get to know what that means. The best way to get to know Jesus is through the study of the Bible and prayer.
Bible Study 101
- Prayer
Many Christians state they have tried to read the Bible and don’t understand it. God is the source of all wisdom. We must ask Him to enlighten our Bible study.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5
- Make a scheduled time and stick to it
If you are a morning person, most likely you will need to set your alarm an extra fifteen minutes to half an hour earlier. If you prefer evenings, carve out a time before you go to bed.
- Tell someone your plan
We all need accountability to keep us on track.
- Choose a Book of the Bible
If you have never done this before, it’s best to start with a short book, preferably in the New Testament. Try James, 1 John, Titus, or 1 Peter.
- Read the Entire Book
Plan to spend three to four weeks doing this.
Next you will re-read the same book from the beginning once again. This time reading slowly, verse by verse and journaling. Which brings me to the next step.
- Get a Notebook or Journal
Write down “themes” and “applicable principles.”
Write down key scriptures to memorize.
I like to use the SOAK method, an acronym for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Kneeling in prayer.
- Invest in Some Study Aids
A Commentary, which explains and interprets scripture and is written by knowledgeable Theologians.
A Lexicon, which is like a Bible dictionary.
A Bible study guide.
There are also lots of online resources such as, biblegateway.com. blueletterbible.org
- Be a Doer of the Word
Jesus said in Luke 11:28, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
God wants His children to walk in freedom. When we settle for counterfeits, we become a slave to them. The way to freedom is through the truth. But you must know the truth to identify the lies.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
What are some ways you practice authenticity?
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Can You Identify a Counterfeit?
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . : Can You Identify a #Counterfeit? @BeckieLindsey_ @RealMojo68 #franklymydear
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Beckie Lindsey is an award-winning writer, poet, freelancer, and blogger. She is the editor of Southern California Voice, a division of One Christian Voice, LLC., a national news syndicating agency. She is the author of devotions, a devotional study journal, and the upcoming YA novel, Beauties from Ashes. She and her husband Scott have three adult children, two adorable cats and live in California. Learn more about Beckie at https://beckielindsey16.com/
Aug 18, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
We’ve been doing the Five Things Friday posts for a while now. A start, a stop, a hiccup, but now we’re steady at it. I’ve enjoyed your topic suggestions and comments on these posts.
Recently, someone asked what my five favorite posts on FMD are. Y’all are smart. You already know where this is going. Of course, I could list twenty or possibly a hundred. So choosing my five favorite posts is a bit of a challenge. thankyouverymuchforthesuggestionyouknowwhoyouare.
And I’m betting once I hit “publish” I’m going to think up five other posts that could do justice. Or ten. Or twenty. Or, oh, heck. Just read them all.
But for now, here’s what comes to mind whenever I fondly think of Frankly, My Dear . . . I hope you’ll click through to find why these mean so much to me.
- Life Lessons from Willy Wonka
Willy Wonka: You Have a Better Chance, Because You Want It More.
- My Broken Thumb
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Depression is not a spiritual deficiency.
- Champagne and Supernovas
Frankly, My Dear . . . Effervesce, baby.
- And They Say Getting There is Half the Fun. . .
The Three Writing Amigos. . . and a Photobombing Flight Attendant
- What If We’re Not Drowning?
What If We’re Not Drowning?
Of course, y’all know I couldn’t choose just five. Right? I mean, there were hundreds of posts for me to choose. And can I just say narrowing it down was like the first time I baked those biscuits from Lindsay Reine’s Cookbook. #epicfailure
Having said that, I give you the Honorable Mention:
#EmbraceTheCrazy: Climb the Mountain
Frankly, My Dear . . .: Latch and Climb.
Now it’s your turn: What are some of your favorite posts from around the blogosphere? Are you a blogger? Which ones are you most proud of?
TWEET THIS: Five Things Friday: Frankly, Favorites. @RealMojo68 #franklymydear #amblogging
TWEET THIS: What are some of your favorite blog posts? @RealMojo68 #amblogging
With a full computer and coffee mug,
Happy reading!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Jul 25, 2017 |
Welcome Beckie Lindsey to Frankly, My Dear. I’ve known this strong woman since she messaged me three years ago. “Can I pick your brain on writing? I’ll buy you a Starbucks.” I pretty much offered to let her move into my study if she supplies coffee regularly. Our friendship developed and is still maintained through a mutual bond of writing, God, cats, and yes, coffee. I’m pleased as punch to have been the first editor on her soon-to-be published Beauties for Ashes, and invited her to share her faith with us.
By Beckie Lindsey @LindseyBeckie
I have a confession to make—I have experienced seasons when I don’t hear from God. Yes, I mean complete silence for an extended period. At first, it was disconcerting, especially when other Christians seemed to have a direct hotline to God at all times. What’s wrong with me? I questioned.
Have you noticed Christians are quick to share stories of answered prayers ladened with all the feel-goods and warm fuzzies? But we’re not nearly as vocal about the desperate times we persisted in prayer and were met with silence. However, I think these stories might be just as important. So, if your prayers seem to be echoing off the walls, don’t lose faith.
Frankly, My Dear . . . So, if your prayers seem to be echoing off the walls, don’t lose faith.
You are among good company. Job was well acquainted with God’s silence. Abraham was met with silence as he planned to sacrifice his son. There’s no mention of Joseph hearing from God while in prison either.
In my own life, God’s silence has tempted me to doubt. I think most of us can relate.
What Can We do During the Periods of Silence?
Examine Your Life
Make sure nothing is blocking you from being able to hear God’s voice. We must begin with asking ourselves these questions:
- Is there someone I need to forgive?
- Do I have wrong motives?
- Have I put anything above my relationship with God?
As God brings things to mind, be quick to ask for forgiveness.
Please understand, God’s silence does not always mean we have unconfessed sin. Job was righteous and yet went through many trials while God remained silent.
Keep Talking
God’s silence doesn’t mean we should turn our backs and stop praying. Don’t give up! The Psalms are a great example of crying out to God.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.”
~Psalm 22:1-2
Recognize that Silence Creates Hunger
When God is silent, it can lead us to a richer, deeper experience and hunger for more of Him.
Let’s relate this concept to our diets. Last summer I did a dietary cleanse, eliminating refined sugar, processed foods, bread, grains, and red meat from my diet. The cleanse was very restrictive and specific in what I could and could not eat. After several days, I was allowed to slowly add certain foods like grains back into my diet. I cannot tell you how great that quinoa tasted! If we allow it, spiritual hunger can cause us to be grateful for every opportunity to hear from God.
Wait
Waiting means trusting. Can we trust God even during the silence? Job did, Abraham did, Joseph did, Mary did, Paul did—and so can we!
So, if you are in the midst of a season of silence, remember that God has not left you. In fact, if you are a Christian, His Holy Spirit lives within you. He is as close as your breath. Throughout the Bible, we see God’s desire to be known through relationship. We must trust if He is silent, He has a good reason because He is good!
Hold on beloved, the Lord is near to those who draw near to Him!
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . .: When God is Silent. @RealMojo68 @LindseyBeckie #franklymydear #faith
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Beckie Lindsey is an award-winning writer, poet, freelancer, and blogger. She is the editor of Southern California Voice, a division of One Christian Voice, LLC., a national news syndicating agency. She is the author of devotions, a devotional study journal, and the upcoming YA novel, Beauties from Ashes. She and her husband Scott have three adult children, two adorable cats and live in California. Learn more about Beckie at https://beckielindsey16.com/
