Life Update!

Originally published on December 13, 2017

Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (NLT)

📷Happy Sunday! ​ I am super excited to write to you today, to give you a few life updates and to express how good God is. (Super side note: I am not posting as frequently because I want to be strategic, intentional, and led by the Lord so that you all can get the fullness of each message.)

I am taking summer classes. Yaye – The reason why this statement makes me so excited is because, originally, I was told I would not have enough money to take summer classes and that I was approaching my aggregate loan limit. This news did not shock me as financial aid and myself have had a long -term love and “hate” relationship. In my heart, I didn’t want to push or force anything to happen that wasn’t meant to happen. Due to confusion, I emailed the financial aid office and asked them to clarify what they meant. Unfortunately, I was told I used all my financial aid therefore I couldn’t take summer classes. As someone who has done this show a few times, I submitted a summer financial aid request despite being told I had no financial aid left to cover the summer. Shortly after, my financial adviser emailed me and told me (quoting in my own words) that she could go into the system and perhaps move some funds around. It wasn’t long until she emailed me stating that she was able to move some funds around for me to take summer classes. Another road block arose shortly after, I was told that I would have enough money to pay for classes, but not enough to cover my stay in housing. At this point, I had to walk by faith. In faith, I submitted my housing application anyways. To make a long story short, today, I am humbled to say that God’s favor is real. Not only was there enough money for me to take summer classes, but enough for me to stay in housing as well.

Summer classes = early graduation – Ya’ll God is crazy good. I have been in my program for a year now and because God allowed for the financial aid situation to work out, it put me one semester ahead… which means I will be graduating in December. Wow, time has flown by and I am so grateful God chose me to go on this journey. In my heart, I believe all this is happening because there is about to be a shift in my life; if you catch this you are in a shift as well. See, we often think that a shift requires a sign from heaven or a prophecy from leaders in the church. We miss out on shifts in our lives because we don’t see how God is aligning certain things to take place in our journey that causes us to shift. Shifts come with living in the uncomfortable; through faith, discernment, renewing your mind by the word of God, tests, trials, wisdom, and a complete willingness to allow God to direct your path.

Don’t miss your shift just because it doesn’t come packaged pretty, or there wasn’t a prophetic word spoken over your life by church people. Something I have learned recently, is that when God created the heavens and the earth he spoke life over it (see the book of Genesis). In the same way, God spoke a word over your life since the beginning of time (before you were placed in your mother’s womb) (Jeremiah 1:5) and that word echoed through history upholding the promises God made over your life. So, if you are waiting for a word concerning your life know that God has the answer and that you trust his guidance, because ALL things work together for your good (Romans 8:28)

God’s word says that you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37), that there is a hope, a future and a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) . God has packaged us with all we will need in this journey, he takes us through life so that we can begin to tap into what’s already on the inside of us, his power is there on the inside of you. Have peace knowing that God is the author of our life and that he will direct you in the way you should go (Psalm 119: 105).

From average undergrad to exceeding graduate student – So, if some of you recall I had a hard time as an undergraduate. I struggled tremendously with getting the grades I wanted and with balancing my crazy work schedule. I felt hopeless, like maybe college wasn’t for me and I wanted to drop out (Recap). So, after graduating with my Bachelors, I had to choose between a “dream job” or coming back to school to pursue my masters. Honestly, I felt a little uneasy when God pressed upon my heart to return to school (See my blog post "Trailblazer" !). I had no idea, at the time, what God was up to or why he wanted me to return to school, but eventually God revealed it. The transition was so I can clear the path and break some generational chains off my family. Those chains are numbered, but this specific chain meant I would become a first-generation college graduate with two degrees. In this year, God has really enhanced my understanding and work ethic. What once felt as a hopeless disaster now appears to be a blessing not just for me but for everyone after me. It wasn’t in my own strength that I began to exceed in my Master’s program.

Thanks be to God that he kept pushing me to strive because at the end of my first year as a graduate student I made all As. Say what, But how? God really showed me a different learning method that made it simpler to understand the material and he pushed me to keep trying. It wasn’t easy because I was working as a Graduate Assistant and managing classes. There were times I thought I was going to lose my mind, but God wanted me to keep going, and so I did. To sum my update up; trust God’s leading.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6) Stay tuned for my life updates! I pray this encourages someone to have faith in God and to keep pushing forward. Your journey is not over, so press on. Much peace, love, and happiness.

Sincerely, T'keyah