Gospel

July 22, 2020

Pay it Back to You | Insta Tidbit

By Maysen Battles

We talk about giving grace to any and everyone, but half the time we forget that we're allowed to accept the grace given by Him, too. Whether it's your first chapter in a new direction, a tough chapter or a chapter that you wish you'd quit revisiting (bad habits, old relationships), please please know that through His grace, you're allowed to say "I'm weak as hell, I can't navigate this alone, I'm leaning on you, God." What we lack in our flesh, He's more than able; more than able to work through you, accomplish with you, walk alongside you in challenging times.
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Y'all, I don't know about you, but I can be prideful sometimes. I can be slow to surrender when I know I'm weak, for the sake that if I keep on, surely something good will come from it. Welp, wrong.

It's like working late, exhausted, screwing half of the products up and thinking that if you keep going, it's going to get better. Sis, SURRENDER. You're weak. Say it loud and proud. Y'all, when you're weak and acknowledge it, that's when His best work is done; that's when His goodness shines bright. I suppose in this analogy, recognizing "hey, i'm tired, lets call it a'quits for the night and sleep" is the same; God wants to help y'all, He wants you to do good, but it takes two to tango... and it first starts with accepting that it's ok to be weak, because someone upstairs is strong in tenfold, bar none. Where our efforts end in surrender, His efforts become more crystal clear. Stay the course, maybe get some sleep (😉) and thank God that through His grace, we're sufficient.

July 22, 2020

Spendy Sin | Insta Tidbit

By Maysen Battles

Y'all ever realize how much it costs us by being jealous, angry, prideful, greedy? I'm just going to call it out, it's expensive to be sinful and truth be told, we aren't all millionaires to have that kind of running tab!😉

We sin every day; but sometimes, we get a little out of hand; maybe it's a bad day, weak moment, etc. I'm very-much someone who takes the anger or frustration felt and isn't easily able to shake it; sometimes I'd rather dwell in the "i'm the hurricane and you're the trailer park" motto more than I'd like to admit. I remain in this negative mindset way WAY longer than I need to be, I mull it over way more than it needs to and costs me too much.

For me, all of this stems from scenarios where I KNOW what the proper actions should look like (aka break the barrier and let it roll off my back) in order to not go down the rabbit hole of sin, but I do it anyways. Y'all ever just do stuff anyways, because you think that being mad or acting in your selfish desires might just work out better? Or maybe you feel as though you're so deep, that there's no way of backing out? Y'all ever get in an argument and you KNOW you're wrong, but pride steps in and makes you feel like you have to keep going?
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Ok, so say we bought, say, anger; what did that cost us? Well, a lot of things, that we probably wouldn't WANT to freely give up; happiness, peace of mind, faith, open eyes, healthy relationships. In that though, what is anger going to give us that, in turn, we can go and use it usefully? Probably not a whole hell of a lot. Gods desires for us look more like love, grace, faith, harmony, the whole enchilada... the opposing actions, though? He's not a fan of; and when we let sin take that stronghold on us, we're saying "Hey, I'm going to be selfish for myself, I CAN satisfy my own needs.. and I know what's best."
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I'm not a millionaire, I'm a leather maker, I can't afford these prices! Do I really want to go in debt for things that God deems having no relevant value in our life? No way! We sin everyday in varying lengths; we're all imperfect, but Gods grace and promises are what saves us. every. single. time. Lean to God, by his wounds we're healed and saved.

July 22, 2020

Rest in Stillness | Insta Tidbit

By Maysen Battles

Y'all, it's kinda late and I just got off the phone with my mama, but dang it was probably the best impromptu bible study; mom's just have that secret sauce, don't they?! I just want to share something that was on my heart, and that's Exodus 14:4; the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
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Just revel in that goodness.. so so noteworthy, especially to all of my gals and guys who tend to overthink, plan a few steps ahead, make sudden rash judgements that aren't great, and deep down, y'all know it! Because, *hold on while I step up to the batting box*, hello, that's me. Whatever you have, whatever you feel flustered with... just give it to God and let it be.

Revel in the stillness of not always trying to act in your best interest. Sometimes, I feel as though if I don't feel His presence in a situation where I need a direction, I get brash and start dictating this or that; and while it's good to get the ball rolling, sometimes you just have to be still in His presence... He's always at work. Always. Whether we feel his presence or not, our own understanding shouldn't be based on feeling; it should be based on His integrity. Sistas and brothas, place it on God before you give your emotions to it.

July 22, 2020

Ride for the Brand | Insta Tidbit

By Maysen Battles

Happy Monday, beauties! I wanted to share a little verse that always keeps me going, especially on Mondays when either a.) we feel overwhelmed with work or b.) we let the idea of it being Monday overwhelm our day. In this season of life, I've found so much vibrance and inspiration in Colossians 3:23; "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human master." Sometimes, we feel overwhelmed... hello! Every single on of us! Especially being in a creative role, it can feel tempting to cut corners, work in an automated mindset, etc. Maybe that's fueled by reaching a status, a certain number of followers, income, etc. I've always heard that whatever you're afraid to write, write that; so here it goes;
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I've noticed that those actions tend to be stemmed from the prideful idea of necessity and need; that
sometimes, we take advantage of the need and demand and leave our heart out of whatever it is that we're working on, because the creative process has turned into a well-oiled machine. "Oh I can make this blind-folded"; yea, but did you put your heart into it, or was that blindfolded, too?😆
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Whenever I feel exhausted or worn out, I always remind myself that it's truly such a blessing that I'm even ABLE to live out this sliver of a dream; i'm forever indebted to that notion til' the day I die. Sure, it doesn't erase the crappy days, but it sure reshapes my mind back into the "hype girl" mindset of holy crap, the fact that people so graciously support me is such a privilege that isn't taken lightly. It sounds real dang cheesy, but I always have it in my head that, whatever I'm making, it could be the last... so make it as if God bought it. Be enthusiastic and put your heart into it, don't half ass it, girl; and as one of the guys said it best at a branding, "... you work for the Big Man, you ride for the brand."