Philippians 1:6, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Today I say thank you God for completing the good work you began in me. From the Pit to the Palace: A Testimony of Faith, Forgiveness, and Freedom is a mission accomplished.
To God be the glory for turning this dream into reality. For those who did not believe it was going to happen, I accept your apology. For those who prayed against it, I accept your apology, for those who helped create the experiences, thank you so much; and for those helped and/or did not help or support me, thank you.
As you can see, this was never about your nor me. It was all about obedience to God. Several years ago a vey good friend of mine and I were having a discussion at work one day; and he stated "Ms. Lashley, when this is over, we will all be able to write a book about it." To conclude our discussion that day, we agreed my title would be "From the Pit to the Palace"; and so it is.
I want each of you to know that when we surrender our will for God's will in our lives, things will begin to happen. Never in a million years did I want anyone to know what was hiding underneath the cute little dresses I would often wear. I had to maintain my image. You know, the one I created and not the one he created me in. What does that mean you may ask. It simply means instead of me being willing to walk in the image that God created, the one like him, I decided one day I was going to do things my way.
I wanted instantaneous results. I wanted the blessings but not the beating. I wanted the peace but not the chaos. I wanted the finances but not the lack. I wanted to be loved but didn't want to forget what others had done to me. But thanks to God he allowed me to see me and give me time to repent before my last breath.
Every day he speaks to my heart and lets me know that I am his child. I am the one he chose for this moment at this time. I am the one he used to prove to all of those who did not or do not believe that truly all things are possible when we trust and believe in him.
Therefore, like the old cliché "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"; I have and I will continue to do just that. If I had known then the lives I would touch through my brokenness, I may not would have cried as much. However, I believe the tears I cried were used to water and fertilize the rose that he so graciously let me blossom into.
October 5, 2019 is a date that will be etched in my heart forever. I couldn't help but to admit that was the first time in my life I had felt so much love. Some people who I expected to show did not show of course but it did not stop what God had planned for that night; and only he knows the reason(s) they did not show and to be honest, it is well.
I told my sister October 5, 2019 was a two word day for me. It was a "defining moment". Many true colors, as we often refer to them, were revealed. But honestly, all is well because God did not let one minute of the three designated hours go without someone inspiring, encouraging and loving on me. To God be the glory.
There were some people who attended that never in a million years did I even suspect I meant anything to them. Much less, enough that they would support the pouring out of my soul. The emptying of my spirit and the embracing of the magnificent thing god has done in my life. I will forever be humbled.
My one mission in life is to let women know how valuable you really are. There is genuinely no one else who can do what you are doing right now. Don't be like me and spend decades of your life trying to figure out on your own what God had worked out before you ever entered into the world. Remember he tells us in Jeremiah 1:5,"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
To God be the glory for turning this dream into reality. For those who did not believe it was going to happen, I accept your apology. For those who prayed against it, I accept your apology, for those who helped create the experiences, thank you so much; and for those helped and/or did not help or support me, thank you.
As you can see, this was never about your nor me. It was all about obedience to God. Several years ago a vey good friend of mine and I were having a discussion at work one day; and he stated "Ms. Lashley, when this is over, we will all be able to write a book about it." To conclude our discussion that day, we agreed my title would be "From the Pit to the Palace"; and so it is.
I want each of you to know that when we surrender our will for God's will in our lives, things will begin to happen. Never in a million years did I want anyone to know what was hiding underneath the cute little dresses I would often wear. I had to maintain my image. You know, the one I created and not the one he created me in. What does that mean you may ask. It simply means instead of me being willing to walk in the image that God created, the one like him, I decided one day I was going to do things my way.
I wanted instantaneous results. I wanted the blessings but not the beating. I wanted the peace but not the chaos. I wanted the finances but not the lack. I wanted to be loved but didn't want to forget what others had done to me. But thanks to God he allowed me to see me and give me time to repent before my last breath.
Every day he speaks to my heart and lets me know that I am his child. I am the one he chose for this moment at this time. I am the one he used to prove to all of those who did not or do not believe that truly all things are possible when we trust and believe in him.
Therefore, like the old cliché "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"; I have and I will continue to do just that. If I had known then the lives I would touch through my brokenness, I may not would have cried as much. However, I believe the tears I cried were used to water and fertilize the rose that he so graciously let me blossom into.
October 5, 2019 is a date that will be etched in my heart forever. I couldn't help but to admit that was the first time in my life I had felt so much love. Some people who I expected to show did not show of course but it did not stop what God had planned for that night; and only he knows the reason(s) they did not show and to be honest, it is well.
I told my sister October 5, 2019 was a two word day for me. It was a "defining moment". Many true colors, as we often refer to them, were revealed. But honestly, all is well because God did not let one minute of the three designated hours go without someone inspiring, encouraging and loving on me. To God be the glory.
There were some people who attended that never in a million years did I even suspect I meant anything to them. Much less, enough that they would support the pouring out of my soul. The emptying of my spirit and the embracing of the magnificent thing god has done in my life. I will forever be humbled.
My one mission in life is to let women know how valuable you really are. There is genuinely no one else who can do what you are doing right now. Don't be like me and spend decades of your life trying to figure out on your own what God had worked out before you ever entered into the world. Remember he tells us in Jeremiah 1:5,"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."